Gilbert Johnson

Infobox Military Person
name= Gilbert Johnson
born= 1905
died= death year and age|1972|1905
placeofbirth= Mount Hebron, Alabama
placeofdeath= Jacksonville, North Carolina
placeofburial=


caption=
nickname= Hashmark
allegiance= United States of America
branch= United States Army United States Navy United States Marine Corps
serviceyears= 1923–1955
rank= Sergeant Major
commands=
unit=
battles= World War II Korean War
awards=
laterwork=
SgtMaj Gilbert "Hashmark" Johnson (October 30, 1905 – August 5, 1972) was one of the first African Americans to enlist in the United States Marine Corps. 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 U.S. Army 25th Infantry Regiment (United States). 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 US Navy. Johnson was accepted into the Steward's Branch, the only job available to blacks at that time, and he served for nearly 10 years.

Johnson served aboard the USS "Wyoming" during the bombing of Pearl Harbor. [https://www.bam.usmc.mil/log/2001/02-01.pdf "Breakthrough: Hashmark Johnson's iron leadership helped Marine Corps eliminate segregation" by Sean Fitzpatrick, originally published in "Pass in Review", February 1999] ] The following year, Johnson requested transfer from the US Navy to the United States Marine Corps. He went on to serve the last 17 years of his 32-year military career in the Marine Corps. He earned his nickname because during his initial Marine Corps training at Montford Point he wore three service stripes (hashmarks) on the sleeve of his uniform, indicating his previous enlistments in the army and navy. [ [http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/jmccaa/stories/wfaa050221_eb_mccaacolumn.cda43acf.html "Remembering the Montford Point Marines" by John McCaa] ]

In 1943, Johnson was among the first black men to be trained as Marine drill instructors. In May 1943, at Montford Point, he replaced drill instructor First Sergeant Robert W. Colwell. As a member of the 52d Defense Battalion on Guam in World War II, Johnson asked that black Marines be assigned to combat patrols from which they were then exempt. Once approved, he personally led 25 combat patrols.

Edgar Huff, the only other black sergeant major besides Johnson to serve during World War II, was Johnson's brother-in-law. They were married to twin sisters. [ [http://www.nps.gov/archive/wapa/indepth/extContent/usmc/pcn-190-003132-00/sec4.htm NPS.gov "The Right to Fight: African-American Marines in World War II" by Bernard C. Nalty] ]

Honors and awards

Two years after Johnson's death from a heart attack, the Montford Point facility at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, was renamed Camp Gilbert H. Johnson, the first military installation to be named after an African-American.

ee also

References

External links

* [http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Johnson_GH.htm Who's Who in Marine Corps History]

Persondata
NAME=Johnson, Gilbert
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Johnson, Gilbert "Hashmark"; Hashmark
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Early black in United States Marine Corps
DATE OF BIRTH=October 30, 1905
PLACE OF BIRTH=Mount Hebron, Alabama
DATE OF DEATH=August 5, 1972
PLACE OF DEATH=Jacksonville, North Carolina