George Kidd, a Montford Point Marine, signs the guestbook at the conclusion of the last Friday Evening Parade of the season at Marine Barracks Washington Aug. 26, 2011. Kidd, along other original Montford Point Marines, was one of the guests of honor the event. In 1942, President Roosevelt established a presidential directive giving African Americans an opportunity to be recruited into the Marine Corps. These African Americans, from all states, were not sent to the traditional boot camps of Parris Island, South Carolina and San Diego, California. Instead, African American Marines were segregated - experiencing basic training at Montford Point - a facility at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Approximately 20,000 African American Marines received basic training at Montford Point between 1942 and 1949.::r::::n:: - George Kidd, a Montford Point Marine, signs the guestbook at the conclusion of the last Friday Evening Parade of the season at Marine Barracks Washington Aug. 26, 2011. Kidd, along other original Montford Point Marines, was one of the guests of honor the event. In 1942, President Roosevelt established a presidential directive giving African Americans an opportunity to be recruited into the Marine Corps. These African Americans, from all states, were not sent to the traditional boot camps of Parris Island, South Carolina and San Diego, California. Instead, African American Marines were segregated - experiencing basic training at Montford Point - a facility at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Approximately 20,000 African American Marines received basic training at Montford Point between 1942 and 1949.::r::::n::