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6th Marine Corps District

 

6th Marine Corps District

Marine Corps Recruiting Command

Parris Island, S.C.
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ORANGE CITY, Fla.,(August 25, 2012)—Mr. Robert Blanks, an Original Montford Point Marine, holds up a self-portrait he took during his service in the Marine Corps while stationed in Hawaii. Blanks, 85, received the Congressional Gold Medal in a ceremony held at his residence. He enlisted into the Marine Corps during World War II from Bronx, N.Y., during a time when racial discrimination was commonplace and the military services were just beginning to desegregate. Between 1942 and 1949, there were 19, 168 African American recruits at Montford Point, N.C., near Camp Lejeune. Of those Marines, over 13,000 served overseas during the war. Most were assigned to ammunition and depot companies bringing ammunition and supplies to the front lines and transporting wounded and dead Marines back to the beaches. The Congressional Gold Medal is the nation’s highest civilian honor given by congress for distinguished achievement. The President of the United States signed into law the legislation to award the medal to the Montford Point Marines on November 23, 2011. (Official USMC photo by Staff Sgt. Tracie G. Kessler)(Released).
120825-M-YM527-013.JPG Photo By: SSgt Tracie Kessler

Aug 27, 2012
ORANGE CITY,, Fla. - ORANGE CITY, Fla.,(August 25, 2012)—Mr. Robert Blanks, an Original Montford Point Marine, holds up a self-portrait he took during his service in the Marine Corps while stationed in Hawaii. Blanks, 85, received the Congressional Gold Medal in a ceremony held at his residence. He enlisted into the Marine Corps during World War II from Bronx, N.Y., during a time when racial discrimination was commonplace and the military services were just beginning to desegregate. Between 1942 and 1949, there were 19, 168 African American recruits at Montford Point, N.C., near Camp Lejeune. Of those Marines, over 13,000 served overseas during the war. Most were assigned to ammunition and depot companies bringing ammunition and supplies to the front lines and transporting wounded and dead Marines back to the beaches. The Congressional Gold Medal is the nation’s highest civilian honor given by congress for distinguished achievement. The President of the United States signed into law the legislation to award the medal to the Montford Point Marines on November 23, 2011. (Official USMC photo by Staff Sgt. Tracie G. Kessler)(Released).


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