On June 12, 1945, the U.S. Marine Corps officially desegregated its training program at Montford Point, North Carolina. Previously segregated, Montford Point had been established in 1942 as the training ground for the first African American Marines. By 1945, over 20,000 Black men had trained there, serving with distinction in World War II. The desegregation effort marked a turning point toward racial integration in the U.S. military, preceding President Truman’s 1948 executive order to end segregation in all armed forces. June 12 symbolizes a key step in the inclusion of Black servicemembers into the full fabric of American military life, honoring the legacy of the Montford Point Marines who paved the way under difficult conditions.
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