This hour long, broadcast quality video documentary, examines the experiences of the first African Americans to be enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.

Recruited as a result of America's entry into World War II, these African American Marines in 1942 began receiving basic training at the segregated Montford Point Base adjacent to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. All African American Marines would continue to train at Montford Point until well after World War II.

Some of those trained at Montford Point saw action in the Pacific Theater, while most served in support units in the United States and overseas. After the Second World War, thousands who trained at Montford Point saw combat duty in the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War while all the while fighting for civil rights in their homeland. All of the narration, and perhaps some of the interview segments, are supported by originally composed music and by martial music performed by the Marine Corps Band.

Visual materials used illustrate both the narration and the interviews will include still shots of Montford Point Marines obtained from the Montford Point Marine Museum, the National Archives, the Library of Congress, and the Marine Corps Museum, including never before seen candid stills of life at Montford Point taken by Montford Point veterans. File footage of battle scenes from the Pacific Theater of World War II and Korea from the National Archives.

Over 60 Montford Point Marines were interviewed over a period of five years. The documentary is narrated and performed by Academy Award winning actor Louis Gossett, Jr. The documentary was written and Directed by Dr. Melton McLaurin, Professor Emeritus, UNC Wilmington and was shot and edited by UNCW Television.

Unfortunately, the story of these men who desegregated the Marine Corps and loyally served their country in three major wars is largely unknown to the American Public.