Columbia man, among first African American U.S. Marines, receives congressional honor
COLUMBIA, SC — Two years ago, Congress honored the first African Americans to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps in the 1940s for their role in desegregating that military branch.
But Columbia's William Ramseur, among the 330 honored, could not make the ceremony at the U.S. Capitol.
On Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-Columbia, presented the Congressional Gold Medal to Ramseur at the congressman's office on Lady Street.
Ramseur was a Montford Point Marine. More than 20,000 blacks enlisted in the Marines from 1942-49 at Montford Point Camp in Jacksonville, NC. Ramseur moved in Columbia in 1957. Clyburn presented Ramseur with the award after meeting with media.
Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2014/05/14/3446236/columbia-man-among-first-african.html#storylink=cpy
