Desegregation in the Corps: Part 1

History of the Marine Corps

Montford Point was established in 1942, and this is the perfect time to take a break from the Pacific and focus the next few episodes on the history of desegregation in the Marine Corps.

Marines at Montford Point overcame substantial hurdles to serve in the Corps. They were enlisting in a branch that literally didn't want them (Holcomb confirmed this in testimony before the General Board of the Navy, where he concluded with the claim that they were trying to "break into a club that doesn't want them.") Montford Point Marines also had to overcome the doubt that they could meet the standards of the Corps. Hashmark Johnson, the recruit depot battalion Sergeant Major, trained his recruits hard to ensure there was no question that Marines produced in his depot would exceed the standards set by the Corps.