The Montford Point Marine Association (MPMA) is a military veteran's organization, founded to memorialize the legacy of the first African Americans to serve in the United States Marine Corps. The first African American Marines were trained at Camp Montford Point, in Jacksonville, North Carolina, from 1942 to 1949.
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HALL OF FAME

The Montford Point Marines Hall of Fame Award honors members who have provided outstanding service to the organization. All of them supported and advanced MPMA by dedicating their time and energy to the Montford Point Marine Association. We honor these recipients of the Hall of Fame Award for their motivation and their efforts.

 

2008
Mrs. Alexandria Johnson
LtGen Ronald S. Coleman
Mr. John O. Tilghman
Mr. Charles Stallard
Mr. Augustus (Gus) Willis (posthumously)
MajGen Walter E. Gaskin (LtGen Sel)
Mr. William E. Washington (Posthumously)

 

2009
Mr. Louis Gossett, Jr (Eracism Foundation)
Mr. David Fortune
Mr. Gilbert T. Taylor
Mr. Jessie Hampton
Mr. George Herring
Rev. Steven King (Posthumously)
Mr. Clarence Broussard Sr

2007
Mr. Thomas Cork, Sr.
Cpl Averitte W. Corley
Mr. Albert “Carl” Jackson
SgtMaj Nathaniel W. James, Jr.
Mr. Raymond Murry
Sgt Lancaster W. Price
Mrs. Famie Roundtree
SSgt LaSalle R. Vaughn

 

2006
Mr. John “Zeke” Clouser
Mr. James Jackson
Mr. Kenneth Rollock
Mr. George Taylor
Mr. Herman Darden (Posthumously)
Mr. John Warner Hagen (Posthumously)

 

2005
Lt.Col Joseph Carpenter
Mr. Joseph Davis
Mr. Wendel R. Ferguson
Mr. Harry Hamilton
Mr. Norman Payne
SgtMaj. Johnny C. Washington
Mr. John Vanoy
Mr. John T. Covington (Posthumously)
O’ther Givens (Posthumously)

 

2004
LtCol Demetrius Bellizaire
Mr. Leo Taylor
Mr. William J. Foreman Sr.
Mr. McFall C. Gourdine (Posthumously)

 

2003
MajGen Leo V. Williams
Reverend Norflette Mersier
Mr. Robert C. Garnett
LtCol Eric M. Lindsay

 

2002
Mr. James A Fairfax
1stSgt. Barnett Person
MajGen. Charles Bolden
Capt (USN) Thomas McPhatter, D.D
Mr. James E. Stewart (Posthumously)
SgtMaj Ralph G. Balara (Posthumously)

 

2001
Col Gilda Jackson
Mr. Mortimer A Cox
MGySgt Herman Rhett (PNP)
SgtMaj James McCargo
Capt Samuel Saxton (PNP)
Mr Joe Meyers
Ms. Helen Peters
MSgt Russell W. Curtis (Posthumously)
Sgt Rodney M. Davis (Posthumously)
PFC Oscar P Austin (Posthumously)
PFC Robert H. Jenkins (Posthumously)
PFC Ralph H. Johnson (Posthumously)
PFC James A Anderson (Posthumously)

2000
Mr. Henry Baul
Mr. Raymond Davis
Mr. David Dinkins
Cpl Gene Doughty
Cpl James A. Edwards
1stSgt Jack McDowell
GySgt Ruben McNair
SgtMaj Agrippa W. Smith
MajGen. Clifford L. Stanley
Mr. John Green (Posthumously)
Mr. James Hart (Posthumously)
Mr. Garfield James (Posthumously)
Mr. Albert Powers (Posthumously)
Mr. Norman Sneed (Posthumously)
Ms. Wanda Welch (Posthumously)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1999
Mr. Henery H. Anderson
MSgt Alvin H. Banker
MajGen Charlie Bolden
Capt. Frederich C Branch
Mr. Jimmy Carter
Mr. Alexander Chappell
MajGen J. Gary Cooper
Mr. Richard Dalton
Mr. Leroy A Dandridge
Col Fred Davidson III
Mr. Arthur F. Earley
Mr. James A France
MGySgt Brooks Gray
CWO. Annie Grimes
SgtMaj Edgar R. Huff
SgtMaj Gilbert H. Johnson
Mr. James E. Johnson
Mr. Cecil B. Moore
LtGen Frank E. Petersen
SSgt. L. Steven Robinson
SgtMaj Louis Roundtree
Col Samuel A. Woods, Jr.
Mr.  Norman Triplet
Capt Bobby Troup

 

 

 

 

The United States Congress created the Veterans History Project in 2000. The authorizing legislation (Public Law 106-380), sponsored by Representatives Ron Kind, Amo Houghton, and Steny Hoyer in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senators Max Cleland and Chuck Hagel in the U.S. Senate, received unanimous support and was signed into law by President William Jefferson Clinton on October 27, 2000.

 

Congressional Medal Of Honor Society

Congressional Medal Of Honor Society

Medal of Honor Recipients

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Private First Class Anderson's company was advancing in dense jungle northwest of Cam Lo in an effort to extract a heavily besieged reconnaissance patrol. Private First Class Anderson's platoon was the lead element and had advanced only about 200 meters when they were brought under extremely intense enemy small-arms and automatic weapons fire. The platoon reacted swiftly, getting on line as best they could in the thick terrain, and began returning fire. Private First Class Anderson found himself tightly bunched together with the other members of the platoon only 20 meters from the enemy positions. As the fire fight continued several of the men were wounded by the deadly enemy assault. Suddenly, an enemy grenade landed in the midst of the Marines and rolled alongside Private First Class Anderson's head. Unhesitatingly and with complete disregard for his personal safety, he reached out, grasped the grenade, pulled it to his chest and curled around it as it went off. Although several Marines received shrapnel from the grenade, his body absorbed the major force of the explosion. In this singularly heroic act, Private First Class Anderson saved his comrades from serious injury and possible death.During the early morning hours Private First Class Austin's observation post was subjected to a fierce ground attack by a large North Vietnamese Army force supported by a heavy volume of hand grenades, satchel charges, and small arms fire. Observing that one of his wounded companions had fallen unconscious in a position dangerously exposed to the hostile fire, Private First Class Austin unhesitatingly left the relative security of his fighting hole and, with complete disregard for his safety, raced across the fire-swept terrain to assist the Marine to a covered location. As he neared the casualty, he observed an enemy grenade land nearby and, reacting instantly, leaped between the injured Marine and the lethal object, absorbing the effects of its detonation. As he ignored his painful injuries and turned to examine the wounded man, he saw a North Vietnamese Army soldier aiming a weapon at his unconscious companion. With full knowledge of the probable consequences and thinking only to protect the Marine, Private First Class Austin resolutely threw himself between the casualty and the hostile soldier, and, in doing, was mortally wounded.Early in the morning Private First Class Jenkins' twelve-man reconnaissance team was occupying a defensive position at Fire Support Base Argonne south of the Demilitarized Zone. Suddenly, the Marines were assaulted by a North Vietnamese Army platoon employing mortars, automatic weapons, and hand grenades. Reacting instantly, Private First Class Jenkins and another Marine quickly moved into a two-man fighting emplacement, and as they boldly delivered accurate machinegun fire against the enemy, a North Vietnamese soldier threw a hand grenade into the friendly emplacement. Fully realizing the inevitable results of his actions, Private First Class Jenkins quickly seized his comrade, and pushing the man to the ground, he leaped on top of the Marine to shield him from the explosion. Absorbing the full impact of the detonation, Private First Class Jenkins was seriously injured and subsequently succumbed to his wounds. His courage, inspiring valor and selfless devotion to duty saved a fellow Marine from serious injury or possible deathIn the early morning hours during Operation ROCK, Private First Class Johnson was a member of a 15-man reconnaissance patrol manning an observation post on Hill 146 overlooking the Quan Duc Valley deep in enemy controlled territory. They were attacked by a platoon-size hostile force employing automatic weapons, satchel charges and hand grenades. Suddenly, a hand grenade landed in the three-man fighting hole occupied by Private First Class Johnson and two fellow Marines. Realizing the inherent danger to his two comrades, he shouted a warning and unhesitatingly hurled himself upon the explosive device. When the grenade exploded, Private First Class Johnson absorbed the tremendous impact of the blast and was killed instantly. His prompt and heroic act saved the life of one Marine at the cost of his life and undoubtedly prevented the enemy from penetrating his sector of the patrol's perimeter.Elements of Sergeant Davis' platoon were pinned down by a numerically superior force of attacking North Vietnamese Army Regulars near Quang Nam Province. Remnants of the platoon were located in a trench line where Sergeant Davis was directing the fire of his men in an attempt to repel the enemy attack. Disregarding the enemy hand grenades and high volume of small arms and mortar fire, he moved from man to man shouting words of encouragement to each of them while firing and throwing grenades at the onrushing enemy. When an enemy grenade landed in the trench in the midst of his men, Sergeant Davis, realizing the gravity of the situation, and in a final valiant act of complete self-sacrifice, instantly threw himself upon the grenade, absorbing with his body the full and terrific force of the explosion. Through his extraordinary initiative and inspiring valor in the face of almost certain death, Sergeant Davis saved his comrades from injury and possible loss of life, and enabled his platoon to hold its vital position. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

African-American Recipients of the Medal of Honor

When James Anderson earned the Medal of Honor in Vietnam, he became the first Black Marine in history to receive the award.

NATIONAL PRESIDENT’S TIME LINE

 

James T. Averhart    Quantico VA         2009 - Current 
Joseph H. Geeter III Philadelphia PA     2005-2009
Nathaniel James      Camp Lejeune NC     1999-2005
Samuel F. Saxton     Silver Springs MD   1999-1996
Jerome Milburn       Baltimore MD        1996-1991
Gene Doughty         New  York NY        1991-1989
Herman W. Rhett      Boston MA           1989-1985
Gene Doughty         New  York NY        1985-1982
Samuel F. Saxton     Silver Springs MD   1982-1977
Luthan T. Dixon      New York NY         1977-1975  *
William Hill         Chicago IL          1975-1973  *
Ot'her Givins        Chicago  IL         1973-1971  *
Sterling E. Gilliam  Philadelphia PA     1971-1969  *
Richard L. Dalton    Cincinnati OH       1969-1968  *
Arthur E. Earley     Philadelphia PA     1968-1966  *
Aaron Cunningham     Chicago IL          1967-1966  *

Brooks E. Gray       Philadelphia  PA    1966-1965  *

 

  
FEATURED SITES

The MPMA Memorial Project is an unofficial civilian-based public collaboration project inspired by the First Annual Banquet & Awards Ceremony, themed "Preserving the Legacy" on Oct 10th, 2009 in Atlanta, GA by the Montford Point Marine Association, Inc.

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2006 Montford Point Marine Association, Inc.