White Marines rally behind Montford Point buddy
By Deborah Circelli
EDUCATION WRITER
Published: Wednesday, September 26, 2012
ORMOND BEACH —While they couldn't train together more than 65 years ago because their skin is a different color, four local Marines wanted to be sure their fellow black Marine and friend received the recognition he deserved.
Christopher Royall, 89, of Ormond Beach will receive one of the last Congressional Gold Medals — the highest civilian honor — given to Montford Point Marines for breaking barriers as the first blacks to serve in the Marine Corps during World War II.
About 20,000 black Marine recruits were trained from 1942 to 1949 at the segregated Montford Point in North Carolina until the training base was deactivated after President Harry S. Truman issued an executive order ending segregation in the Armed Forces. Replica Congressional Gold Medals were placed over the heads of about 350 surviving Montford Marines at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., in June and another 26 to family members. In total, close to 500 medals have been issued, some at private ceremonies for those who couldn't travel.
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