Photo By Pfc. Victoria Fairchild | Frank Marlowe, a retired master gunnery sergeant and Palo Alto, Calif., native,...... read more read more
BARSTOW, Calif. — Regardless of his skin color, Frank Marlowe’s parents taught him to strive to always do his best and try to be better than those around him.
“My parents always encouraged us to go for what we wanted,” said Marlowe, a retired Marine and a heavy mobile equipment mechanic inspector aboard Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow.
February is recognized throughout our nation as Black History Month, and as Marlowe looks back on his life and time in the Corps, and he reflects on societal changes made in the last four decades.
The former master gunnery sergeant recalls going to boot camp in early January 1966 and being treated the same as everyone else.
“On my first day, I was smiling and the drill instructors were quick to put me back into my place,” he said. “I had two black drill instructors and one white drill instructor; I don’t think anybody was treated differently, unless they were a screw-up.”
Marlowe said he wasn’t exposed to racism until his first duty station at Camp Lejeune, N.C., where riots were rampant and local establishments became off-limits for black Marines due to the segregation taking place in the city.
“We spent a lot of time on base,” said Marlowe. “[I remember] the command trying to squash a lot of the racist things [happening on] base and in the nearby towns.”
Marlowe recalled one particular incident, while on the firing range, where a fellow Marine belittled Marlowe based on his skin color. Looking back, Marlowe was impressed with his self-control.
“I’m always surprised that I didn’t shoot him,” said the Palo Alto, Calif., native. “If you were going for the bigger prize in the Marine Corps, you just bit the bullet back then when something like that happened.”
Two years after joining the Corps and stationed in Okinawa, Japan, Marlowe, like many other Americans, was dismayed to learn that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. has been assassinated. The news tore through the military like shock-wave, leaving some service members feeling uneasy.
“You could definitely feel the tension in the air,” he said. “Even overseas, it was very clear that everyone was affected by the incident.”
“I find it important to recognize Black History Month because of the simple fact that we have history. So much can be lost if you don’t look back on it and realize how much information is out there with our culture,” he explained.
Although Marlowe recognizes the challenges we went through not only as a nation, but as a military institution, he acknowledge the hard work of those who came before him. The Montford Point Marines were instrumental in changing racial equality in the Marine Corps. These Marines fought for their country, while simultaneously fighting for equality.
Marlowe said he sees National Black History Month as something to be remembered, but not something to be taken out of context. “I want to be called an American; it doesn’t always have to be about what color you are, it doesn’t matter to me. I’m an American and I’m proud to have served the Marine Corps and accomplished what I have.”
| Date Taken: | 02.28.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 04.20.2012 12:29 |
| Story ID: | 87068 |
| Location: | BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 56 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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