Lawrence Diggs of Columbia was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal for his service in World War II.
Despite living in a time when racial discrimination and segregation occurred throughout the country, more than 300 African-American Missourians willingly volunteered to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II. They were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for their service on Wednesday. One of the honorees was Lawrence Diggs of Columbia, who is a Montford Point Marine veteran and traveled from Missouri to be honored for his bravery and commitment to America.
"These veterans represent the very best our country has to offer," said U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, who is the daughter of a World War II veteran. "They never gave up on America, regardless of how they may have been treated in return. That kind of spirit and determination is something we should honor and remember. Meeting veterans like Lawrence reminds me yet again why people like him, and all who served in World War II are known as the ‘greatest generation.’"
McCaskill, who thanked some of today’s Gold Medal recipients, previously cosponsored and helped pass legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to all Montford Point Marines who trained for duty at the segregated Montford Point facility at Camp Lejeune, N.C. In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an executive order allowing African-Americans to be recruited by the Marine Corps; however, they were not allowed to attend traditional boot camps, despite serving with distinction throughout the Pacific.
Montford veterans from Missouri who received the Congressional Gold Medal today also included: Charles Lockett of St. Louis, Robert Motley of Kansas City, and John Tilghman of St. Peters.
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