Cpl. George Johnson, one of many first Black Marines, drew applause from the gang Monday because the 101-year-old was honored for receiving the nation’s highest civilian award.
Johnson, of Lauderhill, served as a army policeman in the course of the World Warfare II period, and was briefly deployed within the Pacific in the course of the battle’s quick aftermath. He is without doubt one of the Montford Level Marines, the primary Black members of the Corps.
On Monday, he was acknowledged as a recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal at a gathering on the Fort Lauderdale African-American Analysis Library and Cultural Middle, the place he drew cheers from about 200 attendees. They gathered to honor him and fellow trailblazers within the armed providers.
After the occasion, Junior ROTC members and neighborhood members swarmed the centenarian, grabbing footage with him and reaching out to increase their congratulations. Johnson mentioned he felt “fairly good” about receiving one of many nation’s highest honors.
It is among the many many kudos for him in South Florida: Lauderhill Mayor Ken Thurston beforehand proclaimed a day after him, “George J. Johnson Day” — and complimented Johnson on his current accolades.
“I believed he was a really spectacular man,” Thurston mentioned Monday night time. “I am joyful that he was honored, and I might lengthen my congratulations to him on lastly being acknowledged for his contribution to the security and the well-being of our nation.”
Making an Influence
A federal regulation handed in 2011 acknowledged these Marines for his or her service and collectively awarded them the Gold Medal. Whereas just one precise gold medal was made in recognition of all 20,000 males, every could be individually acknowledged with a bronze reproduction struck by the Secretary of the Treasury, in keeping with the regulation.
Camp Montford Level was a segregated coaching floor adjoining to Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, N.C. Upon arriving, Black recruits had been despatched to Montford Level, which was within the westernmost nook of Lejeune.
The army was required to start recruiting Black males below a 1942 government order from President Franklin Roosevelt, which banned discriminatory employment practices in federal companies. Nevertheless, segregation was nonetheless allowed till the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Montford Level opened in 1942 and was decommissioned in 1949. The Marines had been the final department of the armed providers to combine.
Johnson went to Montford Level at age 22 to coach in army policing and attained the rank of corporal. He additionally served within the Pacific following the tip of World Warfare II, from Nov. 2, 1945, to March 28, 1946, and was honorably discharged about two months later.
After serving with the Marines, Johnson joined the White Home Guard, then the New York Police Division.
Johnson was born to Bahamian immigrants and raised in Fort Lauderdale. He graduated from Dillard Excessive College in 1940.
One other former service member, Cpl. Moses Williams, was posthumously awarded the Gold Medal on Monday, which was accepted by his household. Moses died in 1970, aged 44.
The ceremony additionally acknowledged Mallorie Berger, a granddaughter of a Montford Level Marine who has devoted herself to getting these troopers recognition for the Congressional honor.
In recognition of her work on behalf of the veterans, Berger was offered with a signed {photograph} of Montford Level Marines in the course of the ceremony.
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