Photo By Master Sgt. Lynn Kinney | Sgt. Maj. Ronald L. Whittington attributes his success to Montford Point Marines like...... read more read more
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Seventy years after President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 8802 allowing African Americans to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces, 85 year- old Southern Nixon Jr., an African American Private First Class, received the highest civilian honor awarded by Congress - the Congressional Gold Medal.
The Award ceremony took place on Aug. 28 at the Woodland Middle School in Stockbridge, where Nixon currently serves as a nutrition assistant.
Times were different when Nixon joined the Marine Corps in 1945 at the age of 17. The Marine Corps, along with the rest of the country, was still segregated. Born and raised in New Orleans, Nixon wanted to serve his country, even if it meant in less than ideal circumstances. “We trained with hand-me-down items. It was hard and strenuous,” said Nixon of his first time away from home to recruit training. Accommodations were not first-class, he added.
Gen. James F. Amos, 35th Commandant of the Marine Corps, congratulated the Montford Point Marines, in a message read at the ceremony, pointing out the importance of their legacy to Marine Corps history. “They answered our nation’s call despite our society being deeply divided along the racial lines. As such, their contributions went largely unrecognized and many times they were not given the respect and recognition they deserved as Marines, as Americans, and as patriots.”
Reserve and active-duty Marines from Headquarters and Service Battalion, 4st Marine Logistic Group of Marietta, Ga. attended the ceremony. “It is an honor to be able to recognize those that were fighting, not only for the country, but for the many individuals that would come after them,” said Lt. Col. Michael C. Varicak, Inspector – Instructor who delivered the award. “Being able to do this along with his family and the school has made it even more special … especially, singing the Marine’s Hymn at the end.”
Nixon said it was very special to be able to share this achievement with the children at the school. “Many of them stop me in the hallway to congratulate me or salute as I walk by,” he said. Though the children many not understand the challenges he and other Marines faced during segregation, Nixon hopes their participation in the ceremony will help them grow. “It feels really great and wonderful, especially to see everyone come together…one thing I never thought I would see in my lifetime.”
Though he spent only 18 months in the Marine Corps, he continued his service in the Air Force after the military was desegregated. “It was great to see how well the two sides could get along if they really tried. We really wondered what the separation was for in the first place.”
Almost 20 thousand African-American recruits were trained at Montfort Point from 1942 to 1949. Most served in ammunition companies, just as Nixon did; and more than 13 thousand of them served over seas during World War II.
Sgt. Maj. Ronald L. Whittington attributes his success to the Montford Point Marines. “They really paved the way for me to all the things that I have been able to do in my career,” said Whittington, I&I sergeant major, whose Marines were humbled by the experience. “This is a history lesson for them. Marines should know all their history, not just parts of it,” he said.
| Date Taken: | 08.28.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 08.30.2012 12:45 |
| Story ID: | 94044 |
| Location: | STOCKBRIDGE, GEORGIA, US |
| Hometown: | STOCKBRIDGE, GEORGIA, US |
| Web Views: | 374 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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