13-65: Memo, CMC for CG, MB, Cp Lejeune,
N.C., 23 Aug 48, sub: Recruit Training Load at
Montford Point Camp, MC 1035238; idem for CG, MCRD,
26 May 49, MC 1091093; Memo, Dir of Recruiting for
Off in Charge, Recruit Divs, 13 Jun 49, sub:
Enlistment of Negro Personnel. All in Hist Div,
HQMC. Unless otherwise noted all documents cited in
this section are located in this office.]

[Footnote 13-66: Memo, CG, MCRD, Parris Island, for
CMC, 15 Sep 49, sub: Negro Recruits, ser. 08355.]

The commandant approved the integration of recruit training on 22
September, and Noble quietly began assigning recruits without regard
to color.[13-67] Integration of black noncommissioned officer platoon
leaders followed, along with integration of the noncommissioned
officers' club and other facilities. Noble later recalled the
circumstance of the first significant instance of integration in the
history of the Marine Corps:

This innovation not only produced no unfavorable reaction among
the Marines, but also it had no unfavorable reaction among the
civilian citizens of South Carolina in the vicinity. Of course I
consulted the civilian leaders first and told them what I was
going to do and got their advice and promises of help to try to
stop any adverse criticisms of it. It seemed like integration was
due to take place sooner or later anyway in this country,
certainly in the Armed Forces, and I thought that it should take
place in the Armed Forces first.[13-68]

[Footnote 13-67: This limited integration program was
announced by the Secretary of the Navy on 22
December 1949; see Memo, Under SecNav for Chmn,
PPB, 22 Dec 49, PPB files.]

[Footnote 13-68: USMC Oral History Interview with
Noble, 20-23 May 68.]

Since manpower restrictions also made the organization of (p. 335)
administratively separate black units hard to justify, the postwar
reduction in the number of black marines eventually led to the
formation of a number of racially composite units. Where once separate
black companies were the norm, by 1949 the corps had organized most of
its black marines into separate platoons and assigned them as parts o