Retired U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Johnny B. Young Jr., the Southern Regional Vice President with the Montford Point Marine Association, talks about the history of Montford Point Marines. This year marks the 80th anniversary when the first African American recruits arrived on Montford Point on Aug. 26, 1942 for Marine Corps recruit training, paving the way for approximately 20,000 African Americans over the next seven years to earn the title of Marine. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Antonino Mazzamuto)

Carmen Cole, the National President of the Montford Point Marine Association, and Curt Clarke, President of Chapter 14, talk to us about the association and what it means to them. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Danielle Prentice and Cpl. Danielle Abshire/released). For a descriptive transcript text document of this production, contact Kim Hardison at Kimberly.hardison@usmc.mil.

Marines, family and friends gather for a Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony posthumously honoring Sgt. (ret.) Phillip A. Johnson Sr., July 27, 2019, at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Chesapeake, Virginia. Johnson was a Montford Point Marine. Montford Point Marines were the first African American Marines who joined the Marine Corps between 1942 and 1949, a time when the Corps was segregated. In 2011, President Barack Obama signed public law 112-59 to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Montford Point Marines for outstanding perseverance and courage that inspired social change in the U.S. Marine Corps. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Danielle Prentice)

(Facebook teaser video) Marines, family and friends gather for a Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony posthumously honoring Sgt. (ret.) Phillip A. Johnson Sr., July 27, 2019, at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Chesapeake, Virginia. Johnson was a Montford Point Marine. Montford Point Marines were the first African American Marines who joined the Marine Corps between 1942 and 1949, a time when the Corps was segregated. In 2011, President Barack Obama signed public law 112-59 to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Montford Point Marines for outstanding perseverance and courage that inspired social change in the U.S. Marine Corps. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Danielle Prentice)

The Reserve Report is a biweekly newscast featuring news from across Marine Forces Reserve. This episode features 6th Engineer Support Battalion's participation in IRT Camp Hinds to help Boy Scouts, 4th LAR completes its largest annual training exercise in years and Montford Point Marine Association hosts 49th annual convention. Available in high definition.