Oxnard, CA–During a time when John Camper was confined to using “colored only” rest rooms, he still saw fit to fight for his country. Being among the first African Amercans to be enlisted into the United States Marine Corps, Camper made his mark.
In 1942, President Roosevelt established a presidential directive giving African Americans an opportunity to be recruited into the Marine Corps. These African Americans, from all states, were not sent to the traditional boot camps of Parris Island, South Carolina and San Diego, California. Instead, African American Marines were segregated – experiencing basic training at Montford Point – a facility at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Approximately twenty thousand (20,000) African American Marines received basic training at Montford Point between 1942 and 1949.
Although limited to Camp Lejeune during training, Camper worked diligently and tirelessly to ensure that only his best was given.
“I was the seventh man to enlist in Florida in the U.S. Marine Corp after the order was given. It was a lot of hard work,” Camper says, “but all worth it.”
After Camper’s honorable discharge from the Marines, he went on to teach at Georgia State where he served as faculty advisor for the Kappa Chapter on campus. In addition he became very active in civil rights, marching with the likes of Dr. Martin Luther King and Dr. Ralph Abernathy.
President Barack Obama signed a bill Nov. 23, 2011 awarding the Montford Point Marines a Congressional Gold Medal — Congress’ highest civilian honor. The gold medal eventually will be displayed at the Smithsonian Institution. The ceremony date has yet to be determined, but Joe Geeter, Montford Point Marine Association national legislative officer says he hopes it will be sometime in May of 2012.