Camp Gilbert H. Johnson
Encyclopedia
Camp Gilbert H. Johnson is a satellite camp of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
and home to the Marine Corps Combat Service Support Schools (MCCSSS). This is where various support Military Occupational Specialties
such as administration, supply
, logistics
, finance
, and motor transport maintenance
are trained. Camp Johnson is situated on Montford Point, the site of recruit training for the first African Americans to serve in the Marine Corps, known as "Montford Point Marines."
When Franklin D. Roosevelt
signed Executive Order 8802
, blacks were, for the first time, permitted to join the Marine Corps. One of the first African American
s to enlist in the United States Marine Corps
was Gilbert "Hashmark" Johnson, who became a drill instructor. Between 1942 and 1949, the camp at Montford Point was a recruit depot for black recruits, training 20,000 African Americans during that period.
In 1948, by Executive Order 9981
, President Harry S. Truman
ordered the military to integrate. In 1974, Montford Point was renamed Camp Gilbert H. Johnson
in honor of the late Sergeant Major Gilbert H. "Hashmark" Johnson. A Montford Point drill instructor, he served during World War II
and the Korean War
. Camp Johnson became the home of the Marine Corps Combat Service Support Schools.
In 2007, a documentary entitled The Montford Point Marine Project was released, honoring the black Marines who trained at Montford Point.
. The Beirut Memorial is the site of an annual commemoration of the October 1983 Beirut barracks bombing
, when 241 Marines, sailors and soldiers were killed.
This area is also home to a "9/11" memorial, and a Vietnam War memorial. The "9/11" memorial features a beam salvaged from the tower wreckage. The memorial area is well maintained and is used for many ceremonies, from promotions to retirements. The recently built Vietnam Memorial consists of many thick glass panes that are erected from the ground in a circular shape. Each pane of glass is etched with the names of all the service men and women who gave their lives during the Vietnam war. In the center of the memorial is a large water fountain.
Directly across the street is the North Carolina Veterans Cemetery. This cemetery is the resting place to many of Marine veterans. Funerals with "Military Honors" are done on site. Funeral details are provided by the personnel of MCCSSS, Camp Johnson and neighboring units.
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is a United States military training facility in North Carolina. The base's of beaches make it a major area for amphibious assault training, and its location between two deep-water ports allows for fast deployments.The main base is supplemented by five satellite...
and home to the Marine Corps Combat Service Support Schools (MCCSSS). This is where various support Military Occupational Specialties
Military Occupational Specialty
A United States military occupation code, or a Military Occupational Specialty code , is a nine character code used in the United States Army and United States Marines to identify a specific job. In the U.S. Air Force, a system of Air Force Specialty Codes is used...
such as administration, supply
Military Supply Chain Management
Military supply chain management is a cross-functional approach to procuring, producing and delivering products and services. The broad management scope includes sub-suppliers, suppliers, internal information and funds flow.-Supply:...
, logistics
Military logistics
Military logistics is the discipline of planning and carrying out the movement and maintenance of military forces. In its most comprehensive sense, it is those aspects or military operations that deal with:...
, finance
Finance
"Finance" is often defined simply as the management of money or “funds” management Modern finance, however, is a family of business activity that includes the origination, marketing, and management of cash and money surrogates through a variety of capital accounts, instruments, and markets created...
, and motor transport maintenance
Car maintenance
Auto maintenance describes the act of inspecting or testing the condition of car subsystems and servicing or replacing parts and fluids....
are trained. Camp Johnson is situated on Montford Point, the site of recruit training for the first African Americans to serve in the Marine Corps, known as "Montford Point Marines."
Mission
Conduct formal resident training for officers and enlisted personnel in the occupational fields of Logistics, Motor Transport, Personnel Administration, Supply, Financial Management School ( Accounting and Disbursing), as well as to conduct Instructional Management and Combat Water Survival Swim training. In addition to training Marines, Camp Johnson also houses the Field Medical Training Battalion. The Field Medical Training Battalion trains Corpsmen and Religious Program Specialists of the Navy. The Commanding Officer of MCCSSS also serves as the Area Commander, Camp Johnson and provides administrative support to various tenant commands.History
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
signed Executive Order 8802
Executive Order 8802
Executive Order 8802 was signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on June 25, 1941, to prohibit racial discrimination in the national defense industry...
, blacks were, for the first time, permitted to join the Marine Corps. One of the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
s to enlist in the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
was Gilbert "Hashmark" Johnson, who became a drill instructor. Between 1942 and 1949, the camp at Montford Point was a recruit depot for black recruits, training 20,000 African Americans during that period.
In 1948, by Executive Order 9981
Executive Order 9981
Executive Order 9981 is an executive order issued on July 26, 1948 by U.S. President Harry S. Truman. It expanded on Executive Order 8802 by establishing equality of treatment and opportunity in the Armed Services for people of all races, religions, or national origins."In 1947, Randolph, along...
, President Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
ordered the military to integrate. In 1974, Montford Point was renamed Camp Gilbert H. Johnson
Gilbert Johnson
Sergeant Major Gilbert "Hashmark" Johnson was one of the first African Americans to enlist in the United States Marine Corps, and one of the first African American drill instructors in the U.S. Marine Corps. Johnson was known as “Hashmark” because he had more service stripes than rank stripes. He...
in honor of the late Sergeant Major Gilbert H. "Hashmark" Johnson. A Montford Point drill instructor, he served during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. Camp Johnson became the home of the Marine Corps Combat Service Support Schools.
In 2007, a documentary entitled The Montford Point Marine Project was released, honoring the black Marines who trained at Montford Point.
Other
Camp Johnson is home to The Montford Point Museum. The Museum houses items and pictures of the camp during its years as a boot camp. Outside the gate of Camp Johnson stands a tribute to Marines and Sailors who gave their lives trying to keep the peace in LebanonLebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
. The Beirut Memorial is the site of an annual commemoration of the October 1983 Beirut barracks bombing
1983 Beirut barracks bombing
The Beirut Barracks Bombing occurred during the Lebanese Civil War, when two truck bombs struck separate buildings housing United States and French military forces—members of the Multinational Force in Lebanon—killing 299 American and French servicemen...
, when 241 Marines, sailors and soldiers were killed.
This area is also home to a "9/11" memorial, and a Vietnam War memorial. The "9/11" memorial features a beam salvaged from the tower wreckage. The memorial area is well maintained and is used for many ceremonies, from promotions to retirements. The recently built Vietnam Memorial consists of many thick glass panes that are erected from the ground in a circular shape. Each pane of glass is etched with the names of all the service men and women who gave their lives during the Vietnam war. In the center of the memorial is a large water fountain.
Directly across the street is the North Carolina Veterans Cemetery. This cemetery is the resting place to many of Marine veterans. Funerals with "Military Honors" are done on site. Funeral details are provided by the personnel of MCCSSS, Camp Johnson and neighboring units.
See also
- Desegregation in the United States Marine CorpsDesegregation in the United States Marine CorpsThe United States Marine Corps is a desegregated force, made up of troops of all races working and fighting alongside each other. In 1776 and 1777, a dozen African American Marines served in the American Revolutionary War, but from 1798 to 1942, the USMC followed a racially discriminatory policy...
- Montford Point Marine AssociationMontford Point Marine AssociationThe Montford Point Marine Association is a non-profit military veteran's organization, founded to memorialize the legacy of the first African Americans to serve in the United States Marine Corps...
- List of United States Marine Corps installations
- Military history of African AmericansMilitary history of African AmericansThe military history of African Americans spans from the arrival of the first black slaves during the colonial history of the United States to the present day...
- Frederick C. BranchFrederick C. BranchFrederick Clinton Branch was the first African-American officer of the United States Marine Corps.-Marine Corps career:...