The 1600-acre tract that comprises Camp Johnson was originally known as Montford Point, named after Colonel James Montford, a civil war veteran whose family actually traces back to the American Revolution. In January 1941, the Marine Corps acquired the land to establish the Marine Barracks New River.
On 26 April 1942, Montford Point was opened under the command of Colonel Samuel A. Woods and a select group of enlisted staff noncommissioned officers (SNCO's). This group of SNCO's were known as the "Special Enlisted Staff." Their mission was to set up the camp and then function as drill instructors for the new recruits. The first black Marine recruits were selected for their leadership and demonstrated maturity for they would be the backbone of the black SNCO/Drill Instructor core. Nearly 20,000 African-American recruits were trained at Montford Point until 1949, when the U. S. military was fully integrated.
One of the most famous of the black recruits was Gilbert "Hashmark" Johnson. Private Johnson would eventually become a drill instructor at Montford Point and later become the Sergeant Major. On 10 April 1974, Montford Point was renamed Camp Johnson in honor of Sergeant Major Johnson.
The entrance to Camp Johnson is the site of the Beirut Memorial, the North Carolina Veterans Cemetery, and the Vietnam Memorial. The Beirut Memorial was constructed in remembrance of the 273 Marines, Soldiers, and Sailors who lost their lives in Beirut and Grenada in 1983.
Today Camp Johnson is the home of Marine Corps Combat Service Support Schools (MCCSSS) which consists of four MOS producing schools, four tenant commands and one other Marine Corps O6 level Command who reports to the Commanding General of Training Command, Field Medical Training Battalion-East (FMTB-E). Many of the original buildings can still been seen today aboard Camp Johnson, for example the present day Chapel was also the Chapel then.
Sergeant Major Gilbert "Hashmark" Johnson, one of the first African-Americans to enlist in the Marine Corps, died of a heart attack on 5 August 1972 in Jacksonville, North Carolina, while addressing an annual meeting of the Montford Point Marine Association.
Born in rural Mount Hebron, Alabama, Johnson attended Stillman College in 1922, aspiring to become a minister. He left college the following year, however, and joined the Army. At the end of his enlistment in October 1929, Johnson was discharged as a corporal. After four years of civilian life, he decided to try the Navy. The Navy accepted Johnson into the teward's Branch, the only job available to blacks at that time, and he served for nearly10 years. Johnson was aboard the USS Wyoming during the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941. The following year, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered the integration of the armed forces, Johnson requested transfer form the Navy to the Marine Corps. He went on to serve the last 17 of his 32-year military career in the Marine Corps. Throughout his Marine Corps career Johnson provided leadership to his younger and less experienced comrades. It was at Montford Point he was given the name "Hashmark," because of his age and many years of service.
In 1943, he was among the first black men to be trained as Marine drill instructors. He also served as field sergeant in charge of all recruit training at Montford Point. As a member of the 52d Defense Battalion on Guam in World War II, "Hashmark" asked that black Marines be assigned to combat patrols from which they were currently exempt. Once approved, he personally led 25 combat patrols.
Johnson later served in Korea with the 1st Shore Party Battalion, then later with 2d Battalion, 1st Marines, and finally as administrative advisor at the Headquarters of the Korean Marine Corps. Asked if he had experienced any problems as a senior black NCO serving in predominantly white units, Johnson characteristically said "I didn't encounter any difficulty. I accepted each individual for what he was and apparently they accepted me for what I was."
Johnson went on to become one of the first black sergeants major in the Marine Corps. Sergeant Major Johnson transferred to the Fleet Marine Force Reserve in 1957 and retired in 1959.
On 19 April 1974, the Montford Point facility at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, was dedicated as Camp Gilbert H. Johnson, Montford Point, Camp Lejeune, in honor of this outstanding Marine.
The Montford Point Marine Museum was established to preserve the legacy of the Montford Point Marines. To collect, record, preserve and display, in a museum setting for public education and viewing, the largest collection of photographs, documents, papers, and artifacts, forever capturing the unique history of African American Marines from 1942 to 1949, this is our primary mission.
In additional to the museum primary mission, the role of the museum is to display memories of the past and show the public how significant those experiences have influenced events of today, for the next generation.
Location
The Montford Point Marines Museum is housed on the hallowed grounds of Montford Point Camp in the East Wing of building M101, Marine Corps Base, Camp Gilbert H. Johnson, Jacksonville, NC. The director of the Museums is CWO3 (Ret) Tikishia Smiley (910) 554-0808
Museum Hours
The museum is open to the public Tuesday through Thursday 10:00am to 5:00pm and every 2nd and 4th Saturday from 10:00am to 3:00pm. Call (910) 450-1340 to schedule viewings for groups. Staff on call for out of town visitors.
TRAVEL INSTRUCTIONS
The servicing airport for Camp Johnson is Albert J. Ellis Airport (OAJ), Jacksonville, NC
Transportation from airport is available via taxi.
REPORTING IN
During Normal Working Hours (M-F 0700-1700)
Entry Level Students will check in at MAT Platoon Bldg M-132
Career Level Students will report to the Bldg M79 to their respective school wearing the Service "A" uniform
After Normal Working Hours
Entry Level Students will check in with the MCCSSS CDO at Bldg -131.
Career Level Students will report to the SDNCO at Bldg M-447, (910) 450-0229.
AVAILABILITY OF LODGING
Entry Level Students attending instruction at MCCSSS will be assigned government quarters during the duration of their course.
Career Level Students (TAD to attend instruction at MCCSSS)
Sergeants and below will be assigned government quarters during the duration of their course.
SNCOs should contact their Faculty Advisor prior to arrival.
Officers should contact their Faculty Advisor prior to arrival.
If there is no availability of billeting at the BOQ or BEQ aboard Camp Johnson or Camp Lejeune you must receive a “Statement of Non-Availability” or “Certified Non-Availability Number” from the installation lodging facility.
MESSING
Entry Level Students will be issued a meal card and be required to mess at the chow hall aboard Camp Johnson.
Career Level /Officer Students: Messing is available at the chow hall aboard Camp Johnson.
Those students that receive a “Statement of Non-availability” or “Certified Non-availability Number” from the installation lodging facility are authorized to mess out in town and receive the Commercial/Locality Meal Rate (CMR).
The chow hall aboard Camp Johnson is located at Bldg M-455 and their hours are listed as such:
Breakfast: 0530-0800
Lunch: 1100-1245
Dinner: 1700-1830
MISC INFO
Funding for a rental car is the responsibility of the attendee's parent command.
Students TAD to MCCSSS must utilize their parent command to resolve issues related to the Defense Travel System (DTS).
FROM I40
Take exit 364 (Hwy 24 East) towards Kenansville
Follow Hwy 24 into Jacksonville to Camp Johnson, use the Montford Point exit.
FROM I95
Exit on Hwy 70 East in Selma, NC
In Kinston, NC take Hwy 258 East towards Jacksonville, NC
Hwy 258 will merge with Hwy 24 East which leads to Camp Johnson, use the Montford Point exit.
FROM HWY 17
Follow to Jacksonville, NC where you will pick up at Hwy 24 East which leads to Camp Johnson, use the Montford Point exit.