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Welcome - the goal of the MPMA-NY Chapter is to preserve the memories, values and foundations of those who have past before us. In doing so we have hosted programs, provided education, sponsored youth programs such as the Harlem Youth Marines, and many other community based programs. The chapter has a long-standing commitment, of reaching out toward interacting and educating all that are interested in the continuing legacy of Marine Corps traditions past and present. The history of the Montford Pointers as they are often referred - can be found on several MPMA websites which chronicles the long standing legacy of these men. Recent articles "Montford Point Marines Honored" and the Right to Fight, are just recent examples of MPMA Members in the news. The most recent
documentary film project is the long awaited joint venture endeavor
between (University North Carolina-Wilmington and University South
Carolina) and the original Montford Pointers titled "The Marines of
Montford Point: Fighting for Freedom".
This documentary film, narrated by stage and screen actor Lou Gosset Jr. tells the stories, and the quest of African Americans to serve there country during their entry into the U.S. Marine Corps. Yet in the face of this difficult time of personal and un-toll challenges, they maintained loyalty, friendships, dignity and pride which this film captures. At the 2006 annual Convention the film was presented to the members, Military personnel, politicians and a variety of civilians in attendance. With airing's occurring on PBS Stations around the country - the NY Chapter extends a profound thanks to all entities and individuals who were involved with this project. There is a long list of websites which along with our sister Chapter in Maryland, openly tells the stories of African Americans in segregated New River and Jacksonville North Carolina during 1942. The resistance by the Corps during this period though documented is masked by many other tales of Marine folklore for the same period. Unlike the Navy which made an effort to address the inclusion - though in relatively small numbers and mainly steward roles, Maj Gen Holcomb (then Marine Commandant) resisted. Eventually the country & the Corps yielded to the efforts documented by Eleanor Roosevelt as a champion against racism, the Fair Employment Practices Commission and signing of Presidential Executive Order 8802, by the Administration, and a pressing need to engage more troops to the pacific, the formation of black units began to emerge. Many began training in isolation at Montford Point - and it would be some time before any actually deploy or actually see combat...... Ultimately after standing on the shoulders of so many before them - the legacy of those who trained at Montford Point ended as quickly as it began. President Harry Truman in an effort to expand on the de-segregation of America established Executive Order 9981. This order ultimately established the committees and the early formation of recommendations which lead to the closure of Montford Point as a segregated boot camp. What was clear was that the prewar policies of the past were now disappearing. While the African-American Marines in the United States braved loneliness and racial discrimination, those overseas might wait on distant islands for Japanese attacks that never came; manhandle heavy containers out of ships' holds; load all sorts of supplies into landing craft; sort out the cargo on the beachhead, often under deadly fire; and move the desperately need material inland to the fighting units. Men in the defense battalions sometimes unloaded ships, whereas members of the combat support companies became infantrymen in an emergency, and stewards often doubled as stretcher bearers. Documentation of these units inside and out of the Marine Corps is sparse even to this day. Sadly publications relegate the story line to just a few pages, while other publications and films of the WWII era communicate a different story line. The Library of Congress, 1975 publication (Appendix B) makes strides to outline those units and the men who served during this period.
In the summer of 1965, twenty years after World War II, an enterprising group of Marine veterans from the Philadelphia areas formulated and developed plans to hold a national reunion of Montford Pointers. The late Attorney Cecil B. Moore, then president of the largest chapter of the NAACP and later a Philadelphia City Councilman, was a member of this founding group. On September 17th and l8th, at the Adelphia Hotel in downtown Philadelphia, over 400 former Marines, retired and active duty Marines, representing 17 states, attended this reunion. The fervid response led to the establishment of the Montford Point Marine Association, Inc., a non-profit veteran organization, chartered in Pennsylvania. Chapters were immediately organized in 11 major cities. Today there are well over 25 Chapters within each major region of the U.S. The Annual National Convention brings forth those Chapters and members which make up the governance of this association. Each brings forth their respective delegate votes in an effort set the course for the future of the association and it's member's. We invite you to attend a local Chapter meeting within your area, and join this proud organization. Use the Feedback link and we will contact you. |
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Local Contact Information - New York
Please use one of the following to contact us at your convenience. Meeting are held every 2nd Saturday at the Harlem YMCA located at 135th Street Lenox Ave at 1PM.
- Telephone 212-267-3318 FAX 212 442-4170
- Postal address
- 346 Broadway Rm 806 NY, NY 10013
- Electronic mail
- General Information:
mpma42@verizon.net
Webmaster: mpmanyc@mpmanyc.com