WASHINGTON — The Marine Corps is assisting the Montford Point Marine Association in the search for and documentation of the original Montford Point Marines so they may be among those recognized with bronze replica medals when the Montford Point Marines are awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.
The bill to award the Montford Point Marines the Congressional Gold Medal was signed by the President on Nov. 23, 2011, and the award ceremony is tentatively planned to be held in the spring of 2012.
In order to be counted as an original Montford Point Marine, documentation of the individual’s DD214 or discharge paperwork verifying completion of training at the Montford Point Camp, N.C., between 1942 and 1949 must be submitted to the Montford Point Marine Association.
When submitting the documentation, the requestor must specify whether the Montford Point Marine is living or deceased, and provide the current contact information, to include name, address, phone number and email address for the Montford Point Marine or the next of kin.
This documentation must be provided to:
MPMA, Inc., National Legislative Officer
Mr. Joseph H. Geeter, III
27 Red Tail Court
Limerick, PA 19468
Information regarding the details of the Congressional Gold Medal award ceremony will be released when they become available.
Those with questions regarding Montford Point Marine Association chapters or documenting a Montford Point Marine, contact Mr. Joe Geeter at geeterj@yahoo.com or (610) 495-3619. Interested media should contact Capt. Kendra Hardesty, Division of Public Affairs, Headquarters Marine Corps, at kendra.hardesty@usmc.mil or (703) 614-4309.