FORT SILL, Okla. (Feb. 6, 2014) -- The Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill honored a Marine who served this country in a time when he was not treated equally.
Pfc. Rudolph Phillips joined the Marine Corps in August 1945. He was one of the first of 20,000 Marines who trained at Camp Montford Point, N.C., a segregated training camp for African Americans.
"Not only did they have to overcome the rigors of basic training during a time of war, but they had to endure the prejudice of the time," said Maj. Gen. Mark McDonald, Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill commanding general.
Phillips went on to serve as a heavy triple gunner on the island of Saipan in World War II and was honorably discharged in November 1946.
Even though the Montford Point Marines trained separately, it became clear during their time on the battlefield that segregation was a foolish institution.
"I'm glad that those men had the courage to come forward, go to Montford Point, become Marines, go fight for our country to show the rest of the country they were men just like we were," said Sgt. Maj. Joe Thornton, Marine Corps Artillery Detachment.
The Marines fighting side-by-side proved that patriotism was colorblind. In July 1948, President Harry S. Truman issued Executive Order No. 9981 negating segregation. Later, in September 1949, Montford Point was deactivated ending seven years of segregation.
"While he might not have seen it in his lifetime private Rudolph Phillips knows that he left his nation a better place because of his courage and his patriotism and devotion to duty," said McDonald.
President Barrack Obama signed Public Law 112-59 Nov. 23, 2011, authorizing the Congressional Gold Medal to all Montford Point Marines.
McDonald presented the Congressional Gold Medal to Phillip's family.
"The last thing dad said to me before he passed away was that he wanted everyone to understand in the family being an American was the most important thing in his life. He had to fight for it, he had to prove himself time and time again," said Johnny Phillips.
"It was a hard fought battle for my dad. He talked about it quite a bit. Sometimes he was sour about it, but in the end he always said, 'Embrace those that hate you and love them,'" said Phillips.
The ceremony continued stating that everyone should learn from others' pasts.
"However, the tragedy, the misery, the suffering the frustration and the despair which lie behind the historical facts of the black family could never in reality be expressed on paper. The struggle of black men and women against insurmountable odds are chapters in history that should not be repeated."
Then, Fred Fitch, Lawton mayor, and others signed a proclamation declaring February Black Heritage Month.
McDonald said the African American journey has an inseparable link with our military. From the Buffalo Soldiers at Fort Sill, to the Tuskegee Airmen to the Montford Point Marines.
"To the struggle that our military went through to desegregate well before the country was pushed forward into desegregation," said McDonald.
"Black History Month gives us the opportunity to celebrate not only that legacy, not only that heritage, but our diversity as well. And, our diversity is really what makes our military as strong as it is and our nation as strong as it is," said the general.
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