President Joe Biden appointed Brig. Gen. Lorna Mahlock to the grade of major general, the Pentagon announced on Dec. 6, and the Senate confirmed her Thursday. Mahlock is the deputy director of cybersecurity for combat support at the National Security Agency at Fort Meade, Maryland.

https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2022/12/16/for-the-1st-time-a-black-female-marine-is-set-to-be-a-2-star-general/

Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III has recommended that the White House promote Lt. Gen. Michael E. Langley of the Marine Corps to be the next head of the military’s Africa Command, two U.S. officials said, in what would be a pathbreaking assignment.

If formally nominated by the White House and confirmed by the Senate, General Langley would become the first Black four-star Marine Corps officer. He would succeed Gen. Stephen J. Townsend of the Army, who is retiring this summer, said the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss personnel issues.

https://www.outsidethebeltway.com/michael-langley-to-be-1st-black-marine-4-star-general/

The Marine Corps announces the passing of Medal of Honor recipient retired Sgt. Maj. John L. Canley on May 11 after a decades long battle with cancer.

Sgt. Maj. Canley passed away in Bend, Oregon, with his family at his bedside.

Sgt. Maj. Canley was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2018 for his actions in 1968 during the battle Hue City, Vietnam. While serving as the company gunnery sergeant for Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Sgt. Maj. Canley and his Marines fought off multiple attacks as they patrolled the city streets to relieve another company of Marines. According to the award citation, Sgt. Maj. Canley repeatedly rushed across gunfire-swept terrain to carry wounded Marines to safety during firefights with the enemy forces. After his company commander was severely wounded during a fight, Sgt. Maj. Canley took command of his company for three days and led the Marines through battle in Hue City.

https://www.marines.mil/News/News-Display/Article/3029327/medal-of-honor-recipient-vietnam-vet-sgtmaj-john-canley-passes-away/

A 94-year-old Marine veteran from Hayward, California, was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal on Aug. 2 — nearly three quarters of a century after he fought to clear the Marshall Islands from the Japanese in World War II.

Joseph Alexander was awarded one of the nation’s highest civilian honors for being among the first African Americans to enlist in the Corps and attend recruit training at Montford Point Camp in Jacksonville, North Carolina.

https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2019/08/06/94-year-old-montford-point-marine-veteran-awarded-congressional-gold-medal/

The U.S. Marine Corps is sounding assembly for the Montford Point Marines for special recognition with the Congressional Gold Medal for their service in the face of stark racial discrimination.

The Corps is helping the Montford Point Marine Association, a veterans group, to locate and document surviving veterans or their next of kin so they can receive a bronze replica of the medal being struck to honor their often-overlooked contributions and valor in World War II.

https://www.freep.com/story/news/2021/08/17/corps-helps-find-montford-point-marines-relatives/8166312002/

The City of Charlotte unveiled the new Montford Point Street signs, with Montfort Point Street replacing Phifer Avenue. It's being renamed in honor of the Montford Point Marines. They were the first African American enlistees in the U.S. Marine Corps back in 1942.

https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/community/charlotte-street-first-african-american-marine-corps-enlistees/275-bfeb30a9-3445-461a-8db2-0606a8ece346

The Marine Corps strongly resisted the inclusion of African Americans at first, but once President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 8802, the Corps began to plan for black recruits. A new training facility was established at Montford Point, part of Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, to maintain segregation. These new Marines were to be trained for anti-aircraft defense battalions as well as supply and logistical roles, freeing up white Marines for combat assignments.

http://righttofightexhibit.org/during-war/marines.php