M14 Forum

Tango · June 17th, 2011, 12:37 PM

http://www.ajc.com/news/marine-once-...in-960558.html

A long time ago, our country was racist. I KNOW, I KNOW… hard to believe. Segregation was normal* and US Marines of the darker skinned variety served in their own units. Initially, this was the Montford Point Marines. They were the first black unit in the US Marine Corps. Did they enjoy a different boot camp? I’d imagine with the racist roots, they were probably treated even more rotten than your white Marines. In my opinion, this probably turned out a tougher breed if that’s how it was handled.

The Montford Marines, while black and less popular in the public eye because of it (similar to the Massachusetts 54th), were Marines and fought just as heartily for their country.

While they were treated differently, I’m of the opinion this is wrong that they were still segregated. Marines are Marines, regardless of skin tone or reproductive organs. The Montford Point Marines are no different.

Private James Howard Benjamin was reportedly killed October 29th, 1944 and buried in Hawaii. In 1949, he was exhumed and reburied in Georgia unceremoniously; after all it was just a black Marine, right?

This past Memorial Day weekend, this got corrected. He was reburied YET AGAIN. This time, it’s in Andersonville National Cemetery, where he is to be buried with full military honors and an escort by the Patriot Guard Riders. Incredibly fitting that this is happening on Memorial Day Weekend.

Semper Fi, Private Benjamin. Rest in peace, brother. After 66 years, you deserve it!

* Footnote – Desegregation of our troops occurred after Pvt. Benjamin’s death, in 1948 by Executive Order 9981.

(I originally wrote the above words on my blog for Memorial Day, but after seeing the forums here figured your lot would like it. http://antitango.wordpress.com/2011/...tless-slumber/ )

RandyB45 · June 17th, 2011, 01:11 PM

The Brotherhood that Binds the Brave. Rest in Peace.

Tommo · June 17th, 2011, 01:28 PM

May God reward him for his service to our Country.

johnnykck · June 17th, 2011, 02:23 PM

A wrong that took to long to correct. RIP sir and thank you for your service and sacrifice.

pendennis · June 17th, 2011, 04:57 PM

It's an honor long due a "Greatest Generation" Marine.

Tango, please do not take this other than the manner in which it is offered.

Prior to 1948, as you have noted, the armed services of this country were segregated. Not because we were a "racist" country, but because it was "known" that "good order and discipline" was at risk, especially during a time of war. That was the opinion of the national command authority. It was not the opinion of the average grunt, sailor, or airman.

I know men who flew B24's, and not one of them was upset that a Tuskegee pilot shot down a ME109, or FW190.

No grunts on the ground in Europe were upset that black hands had touched their rations or ammunition boxes coming in on "Red Ball Express" trucks.

I don't recall reading about Marines complaining about black Marine stretcher bearers in the South Pacific.

We are not, and have never been, a "racist" nation. Some people are racist in their outlooks, but they're a very tiny minority. Most people look only at what a person can do, not what their birth color happens to be. And they believe that the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constititution set people free to pursue their own lives for their own sakes, not at the behest of someone else.

One can only relate to history directly from the time of their birth. No amount of news or history reading can put a person in a position of completely understanding those events happening to the ones who have come before. It's folly to believe that.

My parents were raised during the Great Depression and are part of the "Greatest Generation" I venerate their ability to come through that era, fight a major world war, and start this country on its greatest expansion in the history of mankind. I can only read about it and listen to their stories. It has affected me deeply, but I can only hope to be as good a man, as my parents were/are.

It's also not accurate to equate the "Montford Point Marines" of World War II, to the 54th Massachusetts Regiment of the 1861-1865 war in the U.S. (I will not dishonor those who died on either side by referring to this war as "Civil" or "Between the States".) There are eighty years of history and progress between the two events. With the exception of a few, most of the enlisted in the 54th Massachusetts were illiterate. By the time men enlisted in the Montford Point Marines, most were educated through high school.

That old saw about no godless men in a foxhole, could very well be modified to read, that there are no racists in a foxhole during a barrage.

brycom1 · June 19th, 2011, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pendennis

It's an honor long due a "Greatest Generation" Marine.

Tango, please do not take this other than the manner in which it is offered.

Prior to 1948, as you have noted, the armed services of this country were segregated. Not because we were a "racist" country, but because it was "known" that "good order and discipline" was at risk, especially during a time of war. That was the opinion of the national command authority. It was not the opinion of the average grunt, sailor, or airman.

I know men who flew B24's, and not one of them was upset that a Tuskegee pilot shot down a ME109, or FW190.

No grunts on the ground in Europe were upset that black hands had touched their rations or ammunition boxes coming in on "Red Ball Express" trucks.

I don't recall reading about Marines complaining about black Marine stretcher bearers in the South Pacific.

We are not, and have never been, a "racist" nation. Some people are racist in their outlooks, but they're a very tiny minority. Most people look only at what a person can do, not what their birth color happens to be. And they believe that the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constititution set people free to pursue their own lives for their own sakes, not at the behest of someone else.

One can only relate to history directly from the time of their birth. No amount of news or history reading can put a person in a position of completely understanding those events happening to the ones who have come before. It's folly to believe that.

My parents were raised during the Great Depression and are part of the "Greatest Generation" I venerate their ability to come through that era, fight a major world war, and start this country on its greatest expansion in the history of mankind. I can only read about it and listen to their stories. It has affected me deeply, but I can only hope to be as good a man, as my parents were/are.

It's also not accurate to equate the "Montford Point Marines" of World War II, to the 54th Massachusetts Regiment of the 1861-1865 war in the U.S. (I will not dishonor those who died on either side by referring to this war as "Civil" or "Between the States".) There are eighty years of history and progress between the two events. With the exception of a few, most of the enlisted in the 54th Massachusetts were illiterate. By the time men enlisted in the Montford Point Marines, most were educated through high school.

That old saw about no godless men in a foxhole, could very well be modified to read, that there are no racists in a foxhole during a barrage.

Actually from what I have heard Woodrow Wilson Re segregated the military because he was a racist . I heard it had nothing to do with order, and discipline.

flyingfortress · June 25th, 2011, 11:30 AM

Just some thoughts regarding this issue. Living in Florida has afforded me the opportunity to meet many of the "Greatest Generation". Among them are two men who are refered to as Tuskegee Airmen. One of these good gentlemen made a comment to me that was very enlightening. "We as humans are influenced so strongly be our 5 senses. What we see even influences our intellect. When we see someone different than we are often our reaction to this person is affected by our peer group,culture and, other external forces. These things shade our reaction to this person often before we get to know them. God looks upon a mans heart and therefore knows him as he truly is." This was echoed by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in his "I have a Dream" speech. When he commented that he longed for the day when men would judge each not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. You know we were never taught about the Tuskegee Airmen or the Japanese American infantry regiment that served valliantly in Italy during WWII much less the Montford Point Marines. Have we been so afraid to accept that others are like us despite external physiological differences and to let them into our clique? In light of what I fear is the obvious answer to that question on the part of some. I am of the opinion that the valuable contributions of the few have been to some degree overlooked by the many and, out of this a great injustice wrought on that few. That black man, red man, yellow man in the foxhole, gunturret, hangerdeck, next to me is deserving of the same respect, dignity and, compassion that I want shown to me ( do unto others as you want them to do unto you"). I am happy to see that this man has finally (like his white brothers in arms) been recognized. Thank you for doing your part to ensure the freedom that I enjoy today. WELL DONE MARINE.... SEMPER FI.