HR0167 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0167 LRB102 17800 ECR 24125 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Over 20,000 black Americans trained at Montford Point, fought honorably and with distinction, and broke down barriers of discrimination to become the first black Americans to serve in the Marine Corps; and

WHEREAS, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 8802 on June 25th, 1941, banning discrimination because of race, creed, color, or national origin in all government agencies; and

WHEREAS, The first recruits reported to the segregated Camp Montford Point, a small section of land on Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, on August 26th, 1942; and

WHEREAS, The men of the 51st Composite Defense Battalion distinguished themselves as the finest artillery gunners in the Marine Corps, breaking almost every accuracy record in training; and

WHEREAS, Private Kenneth Tibbs was the first black Marine to lose his life on June 15th, 1944; and

WHEREAS, Black marines served valiantly in the Pacific Theatre of Operations during World War II and participated in battles on Saipan, Guam, and Peleliu; and

WHEREAS, On July 26, 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed Executive Order 9981 establishing the President's Committee on Equality of Treatment and Opportunity in the Armed Services, committing the government to integrating the segregated military; and

WHEREAS, Camp Montford Point was decommissioned on September 9, 1949 because of improved inclusion brought forth by the courageous service of the Montford Point Marines; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we honor the brave marines who trained at Montford Point and were trailblazers who broke down barriers within the Marine Corps; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we acknowledge the Montford Point Marines for their heroic service and therefore declare August 26, 2021 Montford Point Marines Day.