Jack Baker, a Marine from Toledo, Ohio, was recognized with a Congressional Gold Medal during the annual Montford Point Marine Day held at the Lejeune Memorial Gardens in Jacksonville, North Carolina, Aug. 23, 2024. The medal was authorized by Congress in 2011 to be awarded to all Montford Point Marines for their significant contributions to American history by being the first African American Marines, overcoming racial discrimination to serve their country during World War 2 and paving the way for future generations of Black Americans in the military. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Nicholas A. Cox and Lance Cpl. Marissa Seaman)
