David Ferguson, a Montford Point Marine, gives the memorial garden a drink in this archived photo dated Aug 21, 2015. Photo/Renee Carrere

In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 1941 executive order established the Fair Employment Practices Commission. This opened the door to “full participation in the defense program by all persons regardless of color, race, creed or national origin.”

The Marine Corps would eventually adhere to Roosevelt’s demands to start enlisting African Americans in June 1942.

Marine Corps put out a call to enlist 900 African American recruits between the ages of 19 and 29. Upon entering the military, “Colored” would be stamped upon their service record book. And the Marine Corps kept them segregated and established a training base at Montford Point in North Carolina.

They would come to be known as the Montford Point Marines.

According to a recent story in the Washington Post, former Sgt. Leroy Pittman, 85, still remembers when he arrived at Montford Point in 1948. “It was tough. We had to build our own huts to live in. We spent weeks chopping down trees and dodging rattlesnakes. It wasn’t a joke.” Pittman said they were not allowed to ride in cars or go into town to eat. Harassment or arrest without cause was frequent from the Jacksonville Police Department.

In July, some 45 of the original “Montford Pointers” came together for the unveiling of the first phase of the National Montford Point Marine Memorial in a ceremony at Lejeune Memorial Gardens.

David Ferguson, 91, of New Orleans, is one of the original 900 men. Mr. Ferguson is apparently a man born to serve. Up until his health began to fail, he showed up at the at the Levee Exhibit Hall and Garden to help water the native plants.

Levees.org is proud to know and work with Mr. David Ferguson.

For more about the ceremony written up in the Washington Post, click here.