Montford Point Marine Receives Posthumous Congressional Gold Medal in Pensacola

Pensacola, FL (Newsradio 92.3) -- Private Thomas Martin was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal at Veterans Memorial Park in Pensacola, honoring his service as one of the first African Americans to serve in the United States Marine Corps.

Martin was among approximately 20,000 men who trained at Montford Point, North Carolina, between 1942 and 1949, breaking the color barrier in the Marine Corps following Executive Order 8802, which ended segregation in the military.

Ronald C. Johnson, national president of the National Montford Point Marine Association, traveled from Mobile for the ceremony. He said Martin's story reflects the profound sacrifice of an entire generation.

"Private Martin is one of our original Montford Point Marines," Johnson said. "His story is just profound with the 20,000 Marines which went to Montford Point Camp between the years of 1942 and 1949."

Martin was born in England and his family lived in St. Croix in the Virgin Islands.

The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian honor bestowed upon military members. The 112th Congress authorized the award for all Montford Point Marines.

Johnson said the association has located about 4,000 of the original Marines or their families, leaving roughly 16,000 still unrecognized. He said many veterans never told their families about their service due to the conditions of the era.

"When they went home because of the conditions and things during that time, they didn't talk about it with their families," Johnson said. "And so now we're going and putting a big push for those family members."

Families who believe a relative served at Montford Point can visit montfordpointmarines.org or email info@montfordpointmarines.org.