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Master Chief Petty Officer Allen Thiele (ret.) (left),
Musician 3rd Class Erik Horne, assigned to the U.S. Naval Forces Europe Band, plays Taps among the graves of fallen U.S. service members during a Memorial Day ceremony at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery in Nettuno, Italy.
Cpl. Jonathan Staples, a trumpet player for the Quantico
Memorial Day [commemoration activities, HUD headquarters]
Airman 1st Class Jorge Rodriguez, 2nd Maintenance Squadron
190926-N-HP188-0113 ARLINGTON, Virginia (September
The passing of colors - A group of military men standing next to each other
Airman 1st Class Jakeem Zagloul, 60th Security Forces
Veterans from the Gulf Coast stand for the Pledge of
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Mr. Robert Blanks, an Original Montford Point Marine,
Mr. Robert Blanks, an Original Montford Point Marine,
Mr. Robert Blanks, an Original Montford Point Marine,
Mr. Robert Blanks, an Original Montford Point Marine,
"For outstanding perseverance and courage that inspired
"The Marine Corps builds character," said Mr. Robert
"The Marine Corps builds character," said Mr. Robert
Robert L. Harding, an original Montford Point Marine,
Roland Eubanks, a former Montford Point Marine, sits
Mr. Robert Blanks, an Original Montford Point Marine,
Summary
Mr. Robert Blanks, an Original Montford Point Marine, received his Congressional Gold Medal in a ceremony held at his residence from Col. Michael A. Coolican, Marine Corps Systems Command. Blanks, 85, who enlisted into the Marine Corps during World War II from Bronx, N.Y., welcomed the award in recognition of his service to the nation at a time when racial discrimination was normal and the military services were just beginning to desegregate.
Between 1942 and 1949, there were 19, 168 African American recruits at Montford Point, N.C., near Camp Lejeune. Of those Marines, over 13,000 served overseas during the war. Most were assigned to ammunition and depot companies bringing ammunition and supplies to the front lines and transporting wounded and dead Marines back to the beaches. The Congressional Gold Medal is the nation's highest civilian honor given by congress for distinguished achievement. The President of the United States signed into law the legislation to award the medal to the Montford Point Marines Nov. 23, 2011.