The Marines of Montford Point Quotes

“The Red Cross nurses came out to the train to give us coffee and doughnuts. Our officer, our captain, who was white, he said serve the Germans first. Our Red Cross nurses said, no, we’ll serve our boys first.”
― Melton A. McLaurin, The Marines of Montford Point: America's First Black Marines

“[Prisoners of war had] definitely more privileges. They could go anywhere in town they wanted; we could only go in the black section. And of course, as I said, on the train, they could ride in the back of the train or
anywhere on the train they wanted, but we had to get in the car right behind the coal car or the baggage car, whichever one was there. And buses, they sat in front and we sat in the back.”
― Melton A. McLaurin, The Marines of Montford Point: America's First Black Marines

“So finally Jimmy stopped me and said to me, he says, Sarge, they wouldn't sell us any Coke. And I said, what do you mean they wouldn't sell you any Coke? He said no, there was a sign on the door and the sign said no Indians, Mexicans, niggers, or dogs allowed. And if you seen the hurt in the boy's eyes, and he just shook his head and never said anything and just walked on. The other two men never said anything to me. They just walked past with their heads down. And I remember when, well because Jimmy was killed on Iwo Jima.”
― Melton A. McLaurin, The Marines of Montford Point: America's First Black Marines