Montford Point, Camp Lejune, NC

Montford Point, located at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, was established in 1942 as the first training facility for African American Marines in the United States. Over 20,000 Black recruits, known as Montford Point Marines, trained there between 1942 and 1949, overcoming segregation and discrimination to serve in World War II and beyond. Their service marked a significant step toward the eventual integration of the U.S. Marine Corps in 1949. The legacy of Montford Point is honored today as a crucial chapter in both military and civil rights history.