R 231002Z JAN 98 ZYB
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC//MP//
TO ALMAR
UNCLAS //N05354//
ALMAR 036/98
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC/MPE//
SUBJ/AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH//
POC/E. ROBINSON/1STLT/PRIPHN:DSN 223-2565/-/-/SECPHN:COML (703)
/693-2565//
RMKS/1.  FEBRUARY IS DESIGNATED AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH.  THIS
YEAR'S THEME, "50 YEARS ON THE ROAD TO EQUAL OPPORTUNITY:  A
CELEBRATION OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS 9980 AND 9981," REMEMBERING PRESIDENT
TRUMAN'S GUARANTEE OF "EQUALITY OF TREATMENT AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL
PERSONS IN THE SERVICES," CELEBRATES THE MONUMENTAL LEGISLATION THAT
INTEGRATED THE ARMED SERVICES.
2.  ALTHOUGH AFRICAN AMERICANS HAD SERVED PROUDLY IN EVERY MAJOR
CONFLICT, PRIOR TO 1948 THERE HAD BEEN NO FORMAL GUARANTEE OF THE
RIGHT TO SERVE IN THE ARMED SERVICES UNTIL EXECUTIVE ORDERS 9980 AND
9981.  FROM ISAAC WALKER, THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN TO SERVE WITH
THE CONTINENTAL MARINES, TO MAJOR GENERAL CHARLES BOLDEN, ASTRONAUT
AND SENIOR RANKING AFRICAN AMERICAN OFFICER CURRENTLY SERVING,
AFRICAN AMERICANS HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS THROUGHOUT
MARINE CORPS HISTORY.  WE ARE PARTICULARLY APPRECIATIVE OF LANDMARK
ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE MONTFORD POINT MARINES, WHO AS THE FIRST
AFRICAN AMERICAN RECRUITS, OVERCAME INCREDIBLE OBSTACLES.  THEY
PRODUCED MARINES OF SUCH CALIBER AS SGTMAJ GILBERT H. "HASHMARK"
JOHNSON, ONE OF THE PERENNIAL MENTORS FOR ALL MARINES,  AND SGTMAJ
EDGAR R. HUFF, THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN MARINE TO SERVE 30 YEARS ON
ACTIVE DUTY, WHOSE EXEMPLARY SERVICE SET THE STANDARD FOR ALL.
3.  THIS MONTH'S CELEBRATION IS AN IDEAL OCCASION TO HONOR AFRICAN
AMERICANS FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THEIR CORPS AND COUNTRY, AS WELL
AS TO REFLECT UPON THE PRICELESS VALUE OF EVERY MARINE.  COMMANDERS
ARE ENCOURAGED TO RECOGNIZE THIS INTEGRAL PART OF MARINE CORPS
HISTORY BY CONDUCTING AND ENCOURAGING PARTICIPATION IN OBSERVANCE
EVENTS TO INCLUDE LOCAL COMMUNITY PROGRAMS.//
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