Four local Black men made history as members of the Montford Point Marines, the first Black unit to serve in the Marine Corps during World War II.

Black Americans were enlisted into the Marines at the direction of a 1942 executive order from President Franklin D. Roosevelt, with the aim being to have extra service members during the war followed by returning to an all-white Marine Corps afterwards. However, the Montford Point Marines’ performance during the war changed that expectation.

Nearly 400 Montford Point Marines were issued the Congressional Gold Medal in a ceremony in July 2012.

Salisbury-native Ivery Alexander enlisted in 1943 at the age of 18 and was sent to Montford Point, the basic training site for Black Marines that was located close to the all-white Camp LeJeune. Alexander served in the Asian-Pacific theater during World War II from May 1944 to November 1945 with Corps Artillery III Amphibious Corps. Alexander died in 2014 in Salisbury.

China Grove-native James Elijah Connor enlisted in 1944 at the age of 19 and was sent to Montford Point. Connor served in the South Pacific theater during World War II. Connor died in 2012 in Salisbury.

Salisbury-native Henry Ellis enlisted into the Marine Corps in 1943 at the age of 15 and was sent to Montford Point. Ellis served in the Marines through the end of World War II, fighting in Saipan, Tinian and Okinawa. Ellis went on to serve in the Korean War as a member of the Marines. Ellis died in the conflict in 1950 at the age of 22. His remains were unidentified until 2020, when he was disinterred and returned to his family in the United States for burial. The National Marine Chaplain’s Association has since named a scholarship in honor of Ellis.

Rock Hill-native Robert Gill Givens enlisted in the Maine Corps in 1944 at the age of 27 and was sent to Montford Point. Givens would fight in the Pacific theater during World War II, including the Battle of Iwo Jima. After the war, Givens moved to Salisbury, where he worked as a laborer and died in 1983.

For the rest of the month, the Salisbury Post is welcoming submissions of photos and stories that celebrate Rowan County’s rich Black history. If you have a photo or story to tell illustrating Black History Month, please email editor Chandler Inions at editor@salisburypost.com.