Gilbert Johnson
Encyclopedia
Sergeant Major Gilbert "Hashmark" Johnson (October 30, 1905 – August 5, 1972) was one of the first African American
s 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 retired in 1959 after 32 years of service in the U.S. military, 17 years were as a Marine.
. He attended Stillman College
in 1922, aspiring to become a minister
, but he left college the following year to join the U.S. Army.
25th Infantry Regiment (United States) in 1923, serving two three-year tours.
At the end of his enlistment in October 1929, Johnson was discharged as a corporal.
After four years of civilian life, he decided to try the U.S. Navy
. In 1933, he enlisted in the Naval Reserve and was accepted into the Stewards Branch, the only job available to blacks at that time, where he served in the Navy for nearly 10 years. In May 1941, he entered the Regular Navy.
Johnson served aboard the USS Wyoming
during the bombing of Pearl Harbor. In 1941 President Franklin D. Roosevelt
issued Executive Order 8802
requiring the Marines Corps to accept blacks and forbidding discrimination by military contractors.
That year Johnson requested transfer from the U.S. Navy to the United States Marine Corps
. Initially he and other African Americans served in segregated units. He went on to serve the last 17 years of his 32-year military career in the Marine Corps. He earned his nickname because during his initial Marine Corps training at Montford Point, he wore three service stripe
s (hashmarks) on the sleeve of his uniform, indicating his previous enlistments in the army and navy.
In 1943, Johnson was among the first black men to be trained as Marine drill instructor
s. In May 1943, at Montford Point, he replaced drill instructor First Sergeant Robert W. Colwell. As a member of the 52d Defense Battalion on Guam
in World War II, Johnson asked that black Marines be assigned to combat patrols, from which they were then exempt. Once approved, he personally led 25 combat patrols.
Edgar Huff
, the only other black sergeant major besides Johnson to serve during World War II, was Johnson's brother-in-law. They were married to twin sisters.
in his honor. It was the first military installation to be named after an 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...
, and one of the first African American drill instructors in the U.S. 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...
. Johnson was known as “Hashmark” because he had more service stripes than rank stripes. He retired in 1959 after 32 years of service in the U.S. military, 17 years were as a Marine.
Early years
Gilbert Johnson was born on October 30, 1905 to a farming family in rural Mount Hebron, AlabamaAlabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. He attended Stillman College
Stillman College
-Marching Band:The school's marching band is named the Blue Pride Marching Band.In February 2010, Stillman College dedicated the brand new facility, the Thomas Lyle Band Center, named in honor of former band director Thomas Lyle, in conjunction with the Wynn Fine Arts Center.Organizations include:...
in 1922, aspiring to become a minister
Minister of religion
In Christian churches, a minister is someone who is authorized by a church or religious organization to perform functions such as teaching of beliefs; leading services such as weddings, baptisms or funerals; or otherwise providing spiritual guidance to the community...
, but he left college the following year to join the U.S. Army.
Military service
Johnson enlisted in the U.S. ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
25th Infantry Regiment (United States) in 1923, serving two three-year tours.
At the end of his enlistment in October 1929, Johnson was discharged as a corporal.
After four years of civilian life, he decided to try the U.S. Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. In 1933, he enlisted in the Naval Reserve and was accepted into the Stewards Branch, the only job available to blacks at that time, where he served in the Navy for nearly 10 years. In May 1941, he entered the Regular Navy.
Johnson served aboard the USS Wyoming
USS Wyoming (BB-32)
USS Wyoming , the lead ship of her class of battleship, was the third ship of the United States Navy named Wyoming, although it was only the second named in honor of the 44th state....
during the bombing of Pearl Harbor. In 1941 President Franklin D. Roosevelt
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...
issued 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...
requiring the Marines Corps to accept blacks and forbidding discrimination by military contractors.
That year Johnson requested transfer from the U.S. Navy to 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...
. Initially he and other African Americans served in segregated units. He went on to serve the last 17 years of his 32-year military career in the Marine Corps. He earned his nickname because during his initial Marine Corps training at Montford Point, he wore three service stripe
Service stripe
A service stripe, commonly called a hash mark, is a decoration of the United States military which is presented to enlisted members of the U.S. military to denote length of service. The United States Army awards each stripe for three years service, while the United States Navy, United States...
s (hashmarks) on the sleeve of his uniform, indicating his previous enlistments in the army and navy.
In 1943, Johnson was among the first black men to be trained as Marine drill instructor
Drill instructor
A drill instructor is a non-commissioned officer or Staff Non-Commissioned Officer in the armed forces or police forces with specific duties that vary by country. In the U.S. armed forces, they are assigned the duty of indoctrinating new recruits entering the military into the customs and...
s. In May 1943, at Montford Point, he replaced drill instructor First Sergeant Robert W. Colwell. As a member of the 52d Defense Battalion on Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
in World War II, Johnson asked that black Marines be assigned to combat patrols, from which they were then exempt. Once approved, he personally led 25 combat patrols.
Edgar Huff
Edgar Huff
Edgar R. Huff was the first African-American in the United States Marine Corps to be promoted to the rank of Sergeant Major.-Marine Corps service:...
, the only other black sergeant major besides Johnson to serve during World War II, was Johnson's brother-in-law. They were married to twin sisters.
Honors and awards
Two years after Johnson died from a heart attack, the Montford Point facility at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, was renamed Camp Gilbert H. JohnsonCamp Gilbert H. Johnson
Camp Gilbert H. Johnson is a satellite camp of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and home to the Marine Corps Combat Service Support Schools . This is where various support Military Occupational Specialties such as administration, supply, logistics, finance, and motor transport maintenance are trained...
in his honor. It was the first military installation to be named after an African American.
See also
- List of African-American firsts
- Frederick C. BranchFrederick C. BranchFrederick Clinton Branch was the first African-American officer of the United States Marine Corps.-Marine Corps career:...
, the first African-American officer in the Marine Corps