The first African American U.S. Marines were trained at Camp Montford Point, in Jacksonville, North Carolina. African Americans, from all states, were not sent to the traditional boot camps of Parris Island, South Carolina or 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. On June 25, 1941, President Roosevelt issued Executive Order 8802, which barred government agencies and federal contractors from refusing employment in industries engaged in defense production on the basis of race, creed, color, or national origin. The order required the armed services, including the Marine Corps, to recruit and enlist African Americans. With the beginning of World War II African Americans would get their chance to serve in the previou...