First African-American Marines recognized with congressional honor

(CBS News) HAMPTON, Va. - Today Congress took a step to right an injustice.

They awarded the Congressional Gold Medal -- the highest civilian honor -- to the Montford Point Marines, the first African-Americans to serve in the corps. Their sacrifices were long overlooked.

Hundreds of surviving members attended the ceremony. Ninety-year-old James "Rudy" Carter, born in North Carolina, was just 19 years old when he enlisted.

An undated image provided by James "Rudy" Carter of the Montford Point Marines

/ CBS News

"I always hated segregation and Jim Crow from birth because it was morally wrong and I just hated it," Carter said.

He said he joined the Marine Corps. "because this would give me the chance to become an American - a full-fledged citizen."

In 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt ordered the Marines to accept African Americans. For the next eight years they served in black-only units -- commanded by white officers -- and they trained on a segregated base in a Jacksonville, North Carolina called Montford Point.

"I realized from the beginning what we were doing, what was happening was historic, and it was going to be a part of history, part of the changing up of America," Carter said.

But black Marines were prohibited from serving in combat roles.

"They had taken us colored boys and wanted us to become stewards ... to wait on the officers and do all the dirty work," Carter recalled.

But Carter didn't join the Marine Corps to wait tables.

"Hell no," he said. "Whatever I would do I wanted to do it with some dignity."

Carter rose to the rank of First Sergeant -- the highest rank a black marine could obtain -- but he never made it to the front line.

Montford Point Marines salute.

/ CBS News

Nearly 13,000 Montford Point Marines eventually did go into combat as the war intensified in the Pacific. These so-called "support" troops landed at Iwo Jima and Okinawa along side white combat units. In the face of enemy fire, they kept the troops stocked with ammunition and rescued the wounded. They are credited with helping win those battles, but their bravery was never officially recorded.

Fewer than 300 of the Montford Point Marines remain. Carter is believed to be the last living member of his unit.

When asked what the Marines taught him, Carter replied it "taught me to be a man. Taught me to insist on my rights."

"We will never give up," Carter said. "We are just like Marines, faithful to the end."

Always faithful, and finally recognized.

[eyebeenhad]

It still confuses me when someone wants to think that the wrongs of this country do not exist because "they" were not responsible for them. Get a clue, this is history, American history, it happened, it was wrong and it should be corrected. Just as we remind ourselves of the attack on Pearl Harbor, by Japan and the holocaust by Germany, we should not forget it. African American, native Americans, Hispanics all face discrimination in this country because the "majority" Americans want to forget other races exit and deserve equal treatment, equal rights and equal recognition. My family African Americans served in many wars to protect this country to only return to it after the wars, to have to find ourselves treated worse than this country's enemies. Yes, of course history obviously wasn't your strong point, because you still miss the point about history repeating itself for those that do not remember their past. Get a clue and for your own silly enlightenment pickup a history book or at the very least recognize that this country promises to be a bastion of freedom loving people, with inalienable rights for "all" its citizens. Not just the ones whose ancestry is from Europe. So as long as people like you exist there will be many more stories like this one. Get over yourself, there is more to the news than you can obviously understand, by the way, change your tag to something more descriptive of your mind "zero". As for the comments that President Obama has divided this country, this country has been divided for the length of it's history, the problem is what, not who will bring it together?

[Samm91647]

My dad served with many of the men in attendance at the ceremony. I saw many faces I had grown up with. I only wish he could have lived to be there with them. He was so proud of his service. His three grandsons followed him into the Corpes. He told me stories of the raceism that went on as did my sons who served in the 90's. I'm so happy that they were finally recognised for their contributions to our country. I can feel my daddy's smile from Heaven. Semper Fi!

Someone mentioned in an earlier post that others served and didn't get rewarded for their service, I want to state for the record, YES THEY DID! Everytime they got a decent job, or could come home and eat and sleep where they wanted, or got that pat on the back from members of their community, or received a MEDAL as many did, they were rewarded.

[fitstshu]

I served with African Americans, Puerto Ricans,Mexicans, and last but not least a Navajo Indian.I will never forget you.

Vietmam 1968- 1969

PS I'm Scot, English, Irish,Dutch,and German decent.

[nohater]

grandfather served with a black marine who had served during ww2 on iwo. the black marine said he was forced to do grave registration, pick up the dead, pick up the body parts, burial detail, on iwo. when grandfather met him, the black marine was an E8. racism is still alive and well. currently the target of racism seems to be primaril anyone that is hispanic and then others follow.

[manthony139]

Did you stupid people even bother to read the article? The president didnt award this honor , congress did!

[azby321]

It is a shame for anyone to try to take away from these soldiers for finally getting recognition. I am white, and no, I am not responsible for slavery, but neither can we deny that it happened, or that black people are still fighting for equality in a lot of ways & locations. I am very proud of every one of these soldiers as fellow Americans who did all they were allowed to do under the extra stress of being treated inferior by the country they were willing to fight for. Plus, whatever may be wrong with our president is NOT caused by his skin color. Please, get a clue.

[freeamerica31]

Your right about the POTUS. He is just another politician who will do whatever necessary to get elected even if that means divide and conquer.

None of his election year decisions has been a mistake but planned from the beginning to ensure his reelection even if it meant creating great divides.

[freeamerica31]

This country is very divisive when you have to go all the way back to WWII to reward a specific race for their actions while there were many races actually fighting within the same Marine Corps and Military Services in general. What's next?

I understand the history and maybe something more prominent and more representative of the Marine Corps to distinguish this unit would have been a monument instead of choosing to reward only but a few who served during WWII. Who's going to see the medals besides their families?

Then again I'm white and must be racist.

For a President bent on being the leader to end the divide, he has brought more divisiveness to this nation than any other. His plan is to divide and conquer whether it be race, wealth, religion, or gender. All these last few rewards to the different communities is his way of winning the election in November but just remember he's still a politician regardless of race, wealth, religion, or gender and he will play us all to the end.

I thought I was voting for President Obama but the games he's playing may have me to reconsider but then again which devil do you want?

[manthony139]

You sir, are an LIAR! whenever the black man wont go along with what the white man says he is being divisive.you people didn't all of a sudden find out something new about the black man since ww2. the truth is, you didn't think we were good enough then to fight alongside whites, and you don't think we are good enough now to govern whites. when you say you don't care about President Obama's skin color, just his policies, ask a Black or Hispanic if they believe you aren't a racist. The truth will probably hurt.

[Former_Marine_Sgt]

Semper Fi Top.

As a fellow former Marine, I applaud your courage and your determination. You faced things I never had to.

Sir, you are a great man - one to be admired and your story re-told for generations. As is the story of all Monfort Marines.

The scourge of racism was another form of evil to be foung and you and your fellow Monfort Marines did exemplary jobs fighting it. Let us hope that this kind of racism never raises it's ugly head again.

OOHRAH First Sgt.

[sonnyjohns]

Thank You - Uncle Harvey, you finally are rewarded for you little know service as one of the first marines who actually served in the PACIFIC ACTION.

[joe1022joe]

Well, there were thousands of white actual combat Marines that fought their way across the Pacific that Obama is not giving any medals to.

I guess if you're black and a black is elected President you get medals for just putting the uniform on.