Unlike the Buffalo Soldiers and the Tuskegee Airmen there is another group of African-American soldiers that served in World War II who didn’t get quite the notoriety that others did.
They are the Montford Point Marines.
Local World War II veteran Calvin Curtis has finally been recognized for being part of the Montford Point Marines—68 years after he served in the segregated unit that pioneered the way for other soldiers and ended segregation in the military.
His son, Todd Curtis, said, “They were a group that were marginalized and ostracized even. Had to serve in segregated units, had to serve in substandard conditions, yet overcame that and patriotically did their duty.”
Despite opposition from southern Democrats, in 1948 President Truman signed an executive order ending segregation in the military.
