THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY WHEATLEY, READSHAW, DeWEESE, GOODMAN, AUMENT, BISHOP, BRENNAN, BROWNLEE, CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, CONKLIN, DELOZIER, FREEMAN, GEIST, GEORGE, GERGELY, GODSHALL, HENNESSEY, HORNAMAN, JOHNSON, KORTZ, KULA, MAHER, MANN, MARKOSEK, McGEEHAN, MILLARD, MIRABITO, MURPHY, M. O'BRIEN, PARKER, PAYTON, PYLE, QUINN, ROCK, SAINATO, SANTONI, SCAVELLO, SCHRODER, STABACK, STEVENSON, VEREB, WAGNER, TAYLOR, EVERETT, ROEBUCK AND PAYNE, NOVEMBER 1, 2011

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, NOVEMBER 1, 2011  

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing the Montford Point Marines, who were the first

African-American Marines in the United States, for receiving

the Congressional Gold Medal.

WHEREAS, Montford Point Camp was a facility set up

specifically for African Americans after President Roosevelt

desegregated the Marine Corps in 1941; and

WHEREAS, At Montford Point Camp and throughout the Marine

Corps, African-American Marines were forced to endure rampant

racism, such as being prohibited from visiting neighboring

Marine camps unless they were accompanied by a white officer and

being prohibited from dining with their white counterparts; and

WHEREAS, Roughly 19,000 African-American Marines trained at

Montford Point Camp at the height of World War II, and nearly

75% of Montford Point trainees served overseas; and

WHEREAS, Montford Point was deactivated in 1949 after

President Truman issued an executive order barring segregation;

and

WHEREAS, In 1974, Montford Point was renamed Camp Johnson

after one of its trainees, Sergeant Major Gilbert "Hashmark"

Johnson; and

WHEREAS, On October 25th, 2011, the Congress of the United

States honored the Montford Point Marines with the Congressional

Gold Medal with a unanimous vote; and

WHEREAS, The push for the congressional honors was

spearheaded by Commandant General James Amos, who promised that

the story of Montford Point will now be forever anchored in the

rich history of the United States Marine Corps; and

WHEREAS, The history of Montford Point will be taught at all

Marine Corps schools and training facilities from this point

forward; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize and

honor the Montford Point Marines who served their country with

great valor and distinction.