March 1, 2005 Mr. EVANS (for himself, Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida, Mr. SNYDER, Mr. JONES of North Carolina, Mr. HONDA, Ms. CARSON, Mr. CUMMINGS, Mr. SCOTT of Georgia, Mrs. MCCARTHY, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Mr. TOWNS, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mr. MEEKS of New York, Ms. WATERS, Mr. FILNER, Mr. MURTHA, Ms. HARRIS, Mr. HIGGINS, Mr. PAYNE, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Mr. CONYERS, Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan, and Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Commemorating the service to the Nation during World War II of the African-American members of the United States Marine Corps who came to be known as the Montford Point Marines.
Whereas during World War II the Armed Forces, including the United States Marine Corps, were racially segregated, with African-Americans serving in units separate from other Americans;
Whereas African-American volunteers who enlisted in the United States Marine Corps during World War II served the United States in a most honorable fashion yet were subject to racial discrimination and harassment;
Whereas African-Americans who underwent Marine Corps recruit training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, were crowded into segregated substandard facilities for training separate from white Marine recruits at the western-most portion of Camp Lejeune, in an area named Montford Point, giving rise to these African-American Marines being referred to as `Montford Point Marines';
Whereas the Montford Point Marines were initially trained and led by white officers and noncommissioned officers;
Whereas the Montford Point Marines endured racial harassment even in combat zones by fellow service members, including smoke grenades dropped into their camp and harassment by the military police;
Whereas the Montford Point Marines and other African-American members of the Armed Forces endured public comments and insults from a hostile military and civilian leadership;
Whereas African-Americans from every part of the country continued to join the Marine Corps throughout World War II while serving in segregated units under duress without respect from the institution or the public;
Whereas during World War II African-American Marine Corps units fought and served in the Pacific theatre, participating in the liberation of the Ellice Islands, Eniwetok Atoll, the Marshall Islands, Kwajalein Atoll, Iwo Jima, Peleliu, the Marianas Islands, Saipan, Tinian, Guam, and Okinawa;
Whereas Time Magazine's correspondent in the Central Pacific, Robert Sherrod, wrote that the African-American Marines first encountering combat in Saipan as uninitiated units were worthy of the Navy's highest possible combat performance rating of a 4.0;
Whereas these volunteers joined the Marine Corps to demonstrate their commitment to a largely prejudiced nation, defied an unwarranted stereotype, and achieved distinction through brave and honorable service;
Whereas their heroism, commitment, and valor changed long-held attitudes within the Marine Corps and military leadership of the Nation; and
Whereas their heroism and sacrifices improved the treatment for future generations of African Americans in a United States military institution that today is widely considered to be nondiscriminatory and to provide an excellent opportunity for minorities for career advancement: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That Congress--
(1) acknowledges a wrong and discriminatory policy of racial segregation in the United States Marine Corps during World War II;
(2) recognizes that today's United States Marine Corps provides an excellent opportunity for advancement for persons of all races, in significant measure due to the service and example of the African-American members of the Marines Corps during World War II who came to be known as the Montford Point Marines;
(3) honors the work of the members of the Montford Point Marine Association to pass along their experience to future generations; and
(4) expresses the eternal gratitude of a grateful Nation to early African-American Marines willing to suffer racial discrimination while fighting for the Nation's freedom and for the liberation of people in the Pacific.
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