QUANTICO, Va. -- "When I was coming up in the Marine Corps at Montford Point, times were different and the drill instructors were white along with most of the other Marines at Camp Lejeune," said former Pfc. Stanley Tapscott, a Montford Point Marine who served in 1944 and currently resides in Washington D.C. "I still can’t believe the abuse and harassment I went through just because I was black. I had no idea what I was getting myself into."
At a time in America’s history when racial segregation was the norm, African Americans had to prove they too could be the few, the proud. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 8802, prohibiting racial discrimination in the armed services and providing an opportunity for black Americans to earn the title of United States Marine. These men trained at Montford Point, N.C., where approximately 20,000 went through recruit training from 1942 through 1949 and earned the title Marine.
The Montford Point Marines faced conflicts at home and abroad, defending their country oversees, and returning to a nation plagued by segregation. As they continued to confront these challenges, they made their mark in Marine Corps history.
Every year, the Marine Corps memorializes the sacrifices of their predecessors. More than 50 Marines from The Basic School aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico honored the hardships faced by Montford Point Marines by competing in the third annual Montford Point Marine Biathlon at Camp Barrett, MCB Quantico, Oct. 30.
"The biathlon began as a way to commemorate the contribution and sacrifice of the Montford Point Marines, and was designed to reflect the physical challenges and training they went through," said Capt. Matthew Patera, commanding officer, Headquarters Company, TBS.
Instead of a starter's pistol, Tapscott signaled commencement of the race by firing a 105mm Howitzer. The biathlon traversed a 6.5 mile course, in which four-man teams of Marines ran from TBS to Weapons Training Battalion’s Range Three, shot 20 rounds of ammunition in prone and standing positions, and then ran back to TBS. The Montford Point Marines watched the competitors filter through the range as teams were forced to maintain a good pace during the run while keeping enough physical composure to accurately shoot their weapons. After the teams finished the course of fire and were cleared to leave the range, they took off toward the finish line.
"I definitely think that it was a great chance to compete and gather together as Marines to honor those who have come before us," said 2nd Lt. Andrew Craig, a student at TBS and competitor of the race. "Today’s biggest take away was honoring those Marines."
"Going to events like the biathlon brings up many different emotions, but mainly they make me proud to be a Marine, especially a Montford Pointer," Tapscott said.
Today, thousands of minorities of all different backgrounds and ethnicities serve across the Corps, made possible in large part through the efforts and sacrifices of the Montford Point Marines.
"Marines today are the most professional and respectful men and women our nation has to offer," Tapscott said. "If I could sign up today, and serve alongside the Marines I met, I wouldn’t hesitate."