Once a United States Marine, always a Marine, and for 20,000 black Americans who served in the Marines during World War II, they call themselves Montford Point Marines. His military service was recognized this week by the La Palma City Council in honor of Black History Month.
One of the few surviving Montford Point Marines is a spry 97-year-old living in La Palma who was recently awarded a Congressional Gold Medal for his service in World War II.
“It was a surprise to me,” said Stanbury Johnson. Most people just call him Stan.
For Johnson, the memories are still fresh, and somewhat raw, as he remembers dealing with the segregation of the U.S. military.
In 1940’s America, Black Americans were not allowed to be drafted into the U.S. Marines during World War II, until President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 8802 on June 25, 1941. This order prohibited racial discrimination in the defense industry and laid the groundwork for the desegregation of the military.
Even with the official policy change, the Marine Corps remained segregated during World War II. Black recruits were trained separately from white recruits at a facility known as Montford Point, located near Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina.
Montford Point was established specifically for the training of black Marines due to the prevailing racial segregation policies of the time. This segregation persisted until President Harry S. Truman’s Executive Order 9981 in 1948, which mandated the desegregation of the armed forces.
“I know I served in a segregated unit,” said Johnson in an interview this week. “I didn’t get mad,” he said. “I wasn’t belligerent and I’m still not belligerent about it. You just did the best you could.”
Despite facing significant discrimination and challenges, the black Marines who trained at Montford Point made significantcontributions to the Marine Corps and the nation’s defense efforts during World War II and beyond. Their dedication and service helped pave the way for greater integration and equality within the U.S. military.
Despite the hardships, Johnson said he is intensely proud of his service as a U.S. Marine.
“I feel honored and even more so now that I’ve gotten the recognitions and I realize how meaningful it is to people like me, especially people like me, and I don’t mean skin color, I mean people who pretty much don’t think about these things.”
More than 20,000 black Americans became Montford Point Marines. Johnson’s brother served in the U.S. Navy, but the black sailors were segregated in a different part of the ship.
“Black marines never got any recognition for anything,” said Johnson this week. “A group of folks, including Barrack Obama, I suppose, wanted to recognize these Marines,” he added. “This award was established so that some recognition should be given to those guys, and I just happen to be one of those guys,” said Johnson.
Johnson got a medal, but he said his entire family served the country. His oldest brother Percell was also a Marine, Preston was in the Navy, Gus served in the U.S. Army, Tom served in the USO and his sister Romay Davis, who is 104, served in the U.S. Army.
Only his sister Romay remains, he said, all his brothers have passed.
Courtesy photo
A delegation of retired Marines among the leadership of the Montford Point Marine Association traveled to La Palma in late 2023 to formally present Johnson with his Congressional Medal, said Lydia Gadaleta, his daughter and caretaker. La Palma city officials were also invited to the medal ceremony, she said.
The Montford Point Marine Association delegation was back in La Palma this past week as Stan’s military service was recognized by the city during part of their Black History Month recognition.
“I just hope the citizens know what this man is made of,” Cook said of the La Palma veteran who served his country in the U.S. Marines. Most of Stan’s duty was served doing various administrative duties at the Montford Point base during the war.
La Palma Mayor Marshall Goodman honored Johnson as well.
“I just want to read this recognition. And it says the La Palma City Council commends Stansbury Johnson for his service to our nation during World War II. The city honored Johnson for his service in the administrative work at the headquarters of Montford Point Marines during the war, and for receiving the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor for his military service.”
Although no photos of Stan Johnson exist from Montford Point, this is a U.S. military historial photo of training during World War II.
“We had the great pleasure of going to Mr. Johnson’s house on his birthday, and they presented this gold medal, so it was a wonderful event,” he said.
The mayor then turned toward the bright-eyed veteran, who said he was shocked a bit for all the recognition.
“Mr Johnson, would you like to say a couple of words,” asked Goodman?
“Thank you,” said Johnson.
“That’s a couple,” the mayor said.
Johnson said he was so surprised by the proceedings that he had not prepared any formal address.
“Well, I appreciate everything you’ve done, and what you continue to do. And I love La Palma,” said Johnson. “I had an opportunity to move but I didn’t want to leave La Palma. Thank you very much,” Johnson said during the Council meeting.
Like the rest of the nation, Goodman said La Palma celebrates Black History Month each February.
“The United States has designated February as Black History Month since the nation’s bicentennial in 1976, endorsing a specific theme each year,” the mayor said.
“America is a melting pot of cultures and ethnicities. As part of the land of the free and appreciates how each ethnic groups’ culture and contributions have impacted the American landscape,” he added.
The recognition of Black History Month serves as a call to study black history and to pay tribute to the generations of individuals. who struggled and risked their lives for equality and the American dream,” the La Palma mayor said.
He said a copy of the city’s proclamation will be sent to Mr. Bobby McDonald, executive director of the Orange County Black Chamber of Commerce. McDonald was scheduled to attend the meeting but was not able to attend.