Company I Ceremonial recruits take hangs on to top on the Weaver spot in CG Cup Flag Football Pg. 3 Pg. 8 HONOR PLATOON MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO AND THE WESTERN RECRUITING REGION Vol. 70 – No. 5 – COMPANY I FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2010 WWW.MCRDSD.USMC.MIL WWII female Marine reminisces about depot by Pvt. Lauren Stehwien the wife of the famous Medal of “We met and married as pri- Abuse Control Officer, all came to on to since boot camp and has Chevron staff Honor and Navy Cross recipient, vates first class, and have been in visit and give birthday wishes. kept in mint condition. Her family John Basilone. love ever since,” he said. As Kornegay came through the showed off old photographs of As a child, one usually counts Riggi became the godmother of Now, Shirley and Kenneth, hallway she was greeted with hand her during her time spent in the down the days until his birthday; one of Kornegay’s daughters. shared their stories and time spent shakes, hugs, and kisses. Marine Corps. anticipating the cake, ice-cream, “At our age we didn’t real- in the Marine Corps with Marines “This was her first real birth- Kornegay labeled this day as and gifts galore, a day all his own. ize how lucky we were to have a from the depot. day party,” said Susie Krystek, the ‘happiest day of her life’ and a But, as he ages, birthdays often woman like Lena in our lives,” Col. Stephanie Smith, com- Kornegay’s sister. “We grew up day that she would always remem- become less important. Instead of said Shawnee Miller, Kornegay’s manding officer, Headquarters as ‘depression kids’ so we never ber. signifying happiness and glee, they daughter. “We always just knew and Service Battalion, Master Sgt. really had the opportunity to have “Even though I never did get just represent another year older her as Aunt Lena we didn’t realize Yolanda Hamilton, staff non- a birthday party,” she said. my dress blues, I’m still glad I and more responsibility. how important she and her hus- commissioned officer in charge, During the party Kornegay joined, I wouldn’t trade it for any- This year, Shirley Kornegay’s band were.” property control office, and Staff was sporting her old service uni- thing in the world,” she said. “I 87th birthday signified some- Upon completion of her basic Sgt. Heather Vecchia, Substance form cover, which she has held love the Marine Corps with all my thing more than just another year training, Kornegay, along with 48 older. It signified a time to remi- other women Marines were sent to nisce about her enlistment in the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Marine Corps, and a time to share Diego, Calif. These women, later her stories with her loved ones nicknamed “the 49-ers,” were the and Marines at the Veteran Home first female Marines aboard the of California, Chula Vista, Calif., depot. Jan. 30. “At first I thought I’d be home- Kornegay enlisted in the sick being so far from my home in Marine Corps in July 1943, in the Indiana, but once I got here I knew middle of World War II, at age 18. I wanted to stay,” said Kornegay. “After seeing the Marines come Originally, Kornegay was home in their dress blues, I knew assigned the job of a telephone that the Marine Corps was for operator, but eight weeks into her me,” said Kornegay. work aboard the depot, her com- She enlisted in the Marine manding officer called while she Corps the same day her brother was working the switchboard, and enlisted in the Navy, and left she requested the opportunity to for boot camp shortly after. In move to motor transportation 1943, boot camp was a bit differ- because telephone operator was ent than it is today. It was a six- too mundane. The colonel obliged week course at Marine Corps Base, and allowed her to change jobs. Camp Lejeune, N.C. Marksman- “In just the two years I was in, I ship and weaponry were subjects changed 100 percent. I went from female Marines were not taught. being too shy and timid, to too Instead they were taught basic brave,” she said. administration skills, proper wear During the time she was in the of the uniform, and Marine Corps Corps, Kornegay met the man history. to whom she’s been married for Shirley Kornegay, right, a former Marine, talks and reminisces with her friend Flo Harris, also a former While in basic training, Korne- 65 years. His name is Kenneth Marine, during her birthday celebration, Jan. 30. Kornegay and Harris became friends when they met gay befriended Lena Mae Riggi, Kornegay. at the Veteran Home of California in Chula Vista. Pfc. Lauren Stehwien/Chevron Finding black equality in the Marine Corps By Pvt. Lauren Stehwien Marines trained there and went on to become either a 1945, when Fredrick C. Branch was commissioned, earn- Chevron staff steward, ammunition technician, or supply man. ing the title of first black commissioned officer. “The Montford Point Marines were the first black Up until 1949, blacks stayed in their segregated units. Throughout history, racial equality has been one of the Marines to serve in the United States Marine Corps, but President Harry S. Truman put that to an end when he toughest battles America has fought, and in some aspects, there were blacks who served in the Continental Marines,” signed an executive order to fully integrate the armed still tries to fight. Blacks have gone through a series of said Joanie Schwarz-Wetter, education specialist, Com- forces, said Schwarz-Wetter. struggles while trying to gain equality in the United States. mand Museum, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. It was this same year that Annie E. Graham would be Whether it is, equality in lifestyle, voting, education, or “The Continental Marines were Marines who fought in the first black woman to enlist in the Marine Corps. even, the ability to serve their country, they have had to the Revolutionary War and other early wars in U.S. his- From that point forward, black men and women would fight for their rights to do so. tory.” be able to serve their country alongside their Caucasian June 25, 1941, was a turning point for blacks wishing The Montford Point Marines were sent to the all black, counterparts. to serve in the United States military. President Franklin 51st and 52nd Defense Battalions. Although they were As for Montford Point, it was later renamed Camp Gil- Delano Roosevelt issued Executive Order No. 8802, which combat battalions, the Marines were non-deployable, bert H. Johnson, in honor of one of the earliest Montford was intended to establish the Fair Employment Practices therefore never got the opportunity to join the fight. Point recruits who ended up serving a total of 32 years in Commission and created a non-discrimination policy in Instead, the depot ammunitions companies and the offi- the military, 17 of which were in the Marine Corps, and all branches of service. cer’s stewards were the ones who earned their battle scars. reached the rank of sergeant major. However, full integration wasn’t present until 1942 “The Montford Point Marines would volunteer to do The Montford Point Marines paved the way for future when Montford Point, N.C., was established in the Marine patrols and as many combat-oriented jobs as possible,” blacks to follow. Frank E. Peterson was promoted to brig- Corps. At this time, blacks were allowed in the military, said Schwarz-Wetter. “These Marines wanted to do any- adier general in February 1979, which earned him the title however, they were not allowed to work alongside their thing they could to prove themselves to the rest of the of first black general. In June 1999, Alford L. McMichael white counterparts. Montford Point was the place cre- Marine Corps.” was the first black to become Sergeant Major of the Marine ated for black recruits to train and approximately 20,000 Blacks only served as enlisted Marines until Nov. 10, Corps. 2 CHEVRON ~ NEWS AND COMMENTARY ~ FEBRUARY 12, 2010 Raising America’s flag CG’s Welcome Aboard MCRD San Diego’s next Com- manding General’s Welcome Aboard is scheduled for Tuesday from 8:30 on Iwo Jima during WWII a.m. to 12 p.m., at Marine & Family Services, Bldg. 14. The Welcome by Cpl. Shawn Dickens symbol of the Marine Corps over the 2nd Battalion commander, found out Aboard is an information-based Chevron staff years. that Forrestal wanted the first flag as a orientation offering an overview of As a former corpsman, I know souvenir. In Johnson’s mind, the flag programs and services. A bus tour February marks an important time what it is like to be in the thick of it belonged to the men of 2nd Battalion, following the brief will include stops in the Marine Corps and the Navy’s with your brother Marines and know so he ordered the second flag raised. at key points of interest aboard the history. that you rely on each other to make it After Rosenthal sent his film to be depot. The tour ends at the Recre- On February 23, 1945, the men through the hardships you experience processed, the image was quickly wired ation Center, Bldg 590, where attend- of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 28th in combat. You truly are a team. out to be published and became to be ees will receive a free luncheon and Marines, and a Navy corpsman raised The image of the Iwo Jima flag rais- regarded in the United States as one of an Information Expo.