Special Veteran’s Day Broadcast Honors Montford Point Marines

ABC stations will broadcast “Our America: Mission Montford Point,” chronicling the history of the Montford Point Marines.

The one-hour documentary highlights the largely overlooked trailblazers who were the first Black men to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps – the Montford Point Marines, named after the segregated section of Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina, where they trained.

The documentary details this heroic military unit’s history – which was never acknowledged until recently – and highlights the ongoing plight to find these Marines and/or their descendants to honor them with a Congressional Gold Medal. Presently, an estimated 2,000 men have received the medal, leaving approximately 18,000 still due the honor.

Sadly, history has largely overlooked the trailblazing bravery of the Montford Point Marines. There is no list of the approximately 20,000 men who trained at Montford Point, and it wasn’t until 2011 that the men were honored collectively with the Congressional Gold Medal – Congress’s highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions by individuals or institutions.

To commemorate Veteran’s Day, “Our America: Mission Montford Point” will be broadcast on eight ABC owned television stations, including ABC11/WTVD-TV Raleigh-Durham. Check your local listings for times and dates.

>> Watch it now at abc7.com/feature/montford-point-marines-world-war-ii-african-american-marine-corps/12157688.

Those who served, or family members of deceased Montford Point Marines, can learn more at ABC7/ouramerica.com.