Remembering Butler Martin, One of America’s First Black Marines

Butler Martin, one of America’s first Black Marines, died on September 27th at the age of 101.

He was among the earliest African American Marines in the United States, part of the groundbreaking Montford Point Marines who trained in a segregated facility at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, beginning in 1942. This historic group was formed following President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Executive Order 8802, which opened the Marine Corps to Black Americans in response to the needs of the nation during WWII.

The Montford Point Marines represent a pivotal chapter in U.S. military history. Their story began with President Roosevelt’s Executive Order in 1941, which prohibited racial discrimination in the defense industry and paved the way for African Americans to enlist in the Marine Corps, a branch previously entirely closed to them.

From 1942 to 1949, around 20,000 Black Marines trained at Montford Point, a segregated facility on Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

These men endured severe discrimination both on and off the base. They faced harsh training conditions, were initially supervised by white officers, and were restricted in their interactions with white Marines at Camp Lejeune.

However, as training progressed, Black non-commissioned officers like Edgar Huff and Gilbert “Hashmark” Johnson assumed leadership roles, becoming key drill instructors who would inspire their men with rigorous discipline and military skills. The Montford Point Marines achieved remarkable success in training, particularly in artillery, breaking numerous Marine Corps gunnery records and proving their combat readiness.

While many Montford Point Marines served in support roles on Pacific islands, they faced limited combat exposure due to racial biases. Nonetheless, those in Ammunition and Depot Companies saw action in critical WWII battles on Saipan, Guam, and Peleliu. Tragically, Private Kenneth Tibbs became the first Black Marine killed in combat in 1944.

The legacy of the Montford Point Marines is impressive and important to the history of the United States. In 1949, President Truman’s Executive Order 9981 desegregated the armed forces, marking the end of Montford Point’s segregated training. Today, Camp Gilbert H. Johnson honors one of their distinguished leaders. In 2012, the surviving Montford Point Marines, including Butler Martin, received the Congressional Gold Medal, commemorating their historic contributions and breaking racial barriers in the Marine Corps.

These Marines not only excelled under extreme adversity but helped lay the groundwork for an integrated military that reflects the diverse fabric of America today. Their courage and resilience remain honored as a milestone in both military and civil rights history.

Martin, born in South Carolina and later raised in Hamtramck, Michigan, joined this pioneering unit to challenge racial barriers in military service. He initially aspired to join the Air Corps but chose the Marines when he learned about the formation of Black units.