Edgar Huff

Infobox Military Person
name= Edgar R. Huff
born= birth date|1920|5|2
died= death date and age|1994|5|2|1920|5|2
placeofbirth= Gadsden, Alabama
placeofdeath= Camp Lejeune, North Carolina


caption= Sergeant Major Edgar R. Huff, USMC
nickname=
allegiance=flagicon|United States United States of America
branch=United States Marine Corps
serviceyears= 1942-1972
rank= Sergeant Major
commands=
unit= 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines
battles= World War II Korean War Vietnam War
awards= Bronze Star (2) Purple Heart (3)
laterwork=

Edgar R. Huff (May 2 1920 – May 2 1994) was the first African-American in the United States Marine Corps to be promoted to the rank of Sergeant Major.

Marine Corps service

Huff, a native of Gadsden, Alabama, enlisted in the Marine Corps on September 24, 1942 as one of the first African-Americans to do so. Huff received his recruit training with the 51st Composite Defense Battalion, Montford Point Camp, New River, North Carolina. Following graduation, he joined the 155mm gun battery of the 51st Composite Defense Battalion and served with that unit as a gun commander.

In early 1943, he was assigned duty under instruction at drill instructors school, and upon completion of his course, was assigned duty as a drill instructor in March 1943. At that time, Montford Point Camp was the receiving point for all blacks entering the Marine Corps, and by November 1944, Huff had been assigned duty as field sergeant major of all recruit training at the Montford Point Camp.

In November 1944, he was promoted to first sergeant and assigned duty with the 5th Depot Company, departing for the Western Pacific area, serving as first sergeant with this unit on Saipan, Okinawa, and in North China. The 5th Depot Company furnished logistic support for Marine divisions in that area.

Following World War II, he served as Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of Recruit Training at Montford Point Camp until May 1949. He was then assigned duty as guard and infantry chief, Marine Barracks, Naval Ammunition Depot, Earle, New Jersey, until May 1951, at which time he assumed duty with the famed 1st Marine Division in Korea. There, he saw combat as a company gunnery sergeant with the 2nd Battalion 1st Marines, and participated in operations in the "Punch Bowl" area, eastern front, and in the spring-summer offensive on the West Central front.

Upon his return to the United States in August 1952, he was assigned to the 2nd Marine Division, serving as First Sergeant, Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion 8th Marines. In March 1955, he was assigned duty as Guard Chief, Marine Barracks, Naval Air Station, Fort Lyautey, French Morocco.

Huff was promoted to first sergeant in the new rank structure on December 30, 1955, and to the rank of sergeant major a day later on December 31, 1955. From that date he served at the following Marine Corps installations: Post Sergeant Major, Marine Barracks, Port Lyautey, French Morocco; with the 2nd Force Service Regiment; Landing Force Training Unit, Little Creek, Virginia; the 3rd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, Okinawa; the 3rd Force Service Regiment; the 1st Infantry Training Regiment, Camp Geiger, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; Base Sergeant Major, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California; the 1st Military Police Battalion, Force Logistic Command, and with the III Marine Amphibious Force, Republic of Vietnam (May 1967 - June 1968); and with the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (July 1968 - October 1970).

Huff served a second tour of duty in the Republic of Vietnam, as Sergeant Major with the III Marine Amphibious Force from October 1970 until October 1971. He then served as Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Air Station New River, Jacksonville, North Carolina, until his retirement on September 30, 1972.

Huff died on May 2, 1994 at Camp Lejeune Naval Hospital.

Awards and decorations

Huff's awards and decorations include:

* and gold star in lieu of second award)

* (third award)

* (third award)

*

* Combat Action Ribbon

ee also

*List of Korean War veterans who are recipients of the Bronze Star

References

:Marine Corps
*cite web|url=http://hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/HD/Historical/Whos_Who/Huff_ER.htm
title=Sergeant Major Edgar R. Huff, USMC
work=Who's Who in Marine Corps History
publisher=History Division, United States Marine Corps
accessdate=2006-10-23

External links

*cite web|url=http://www.mclm.com/tohonor/erhuff.html
title=Sergeant Major Edgar R. Duff, USMC
publisher=Marine Corps Legacy Museum
accessdate=2006-10-23

*cite web|url=http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Aug1998/n08251998_9808255.html
title= Gravely, Huff Widow Witness Exhibit Debut
work=DefenseLINK News
author=Rudi Williams
publisher=American Forces Press Service
date=August 1998
accessdate=2006-10-23

*cite web|url=http://www.mpmalejeune10.org/History.html
title=History
publisher=Montford Point Marine Association
accessdate=2006-10-23

*cite book|url=http://www.nps.gov/archive/wapa/indepth/extContent/usmc/pcn-190-003132-00/index.htm
author=Bernard C. Nalty
title=The Right to Fight:African American Marines in World War II
publisher=Marines in World War II Commemorative Series, United States Marine Corps
date=1995
accessdate=2006-10-23

*cite web|url=http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/integration/IAF-18.htm
title=Chapter 18: Integration of the Marine Corps
date=May 1, 2001
work=Integration of the Armed Forces 1940-1965
author=Morris J. MacGregor, Jr.
publisher=Center of Military History, U.S. Army
accessdate=2006-10-23