dant
agreed,[10-18] and contrary to the staff's expectations, most Negroes in
the postwar service were new recruits. The mass departure of World (p. 259)
War II veterans eloquently expressed the attitude of experienced black
servicemen toward the Marines' racial policy.

[Footnote 10-17: Memo, Dir, Div of Plans and Policies,
for CMC, 3 May 46, sub: Enlisting of Negroes in the
Marine Corps From Civilian Sources, A0-1.]

[Footnote 10-18: Ibid., 23 Oct 46, sub: Enlistment of
Negroes, 1335-110; Memo, CMC to Off in Charge,
Northeastern Recruiting Div, et al., 23 Oct 46,
sub: Negro First Enlistments, Quota for Month of
November, 1946, AP-1231. There was an attempt to
stall first enlistment, see Memo, Dir of Personnel,
for Dir, Div of Plans and Policies, 17 May 46, sub:
Enlisting of Negroes in the Marine Corps From
Civilian Sources; but it was overruled, Memo, Dir,
Div of Plans and Policies, for Dir of Personnel. 23
May 46, same sub, A0-1.]

The word spread quickly among the new black marines. When in mid-1947
the Division of Plans and Policies was looking for ways to reduce the
number of black marines in keeping with the modified manpower ceiling,
it discovered that if offered the opportunity about one-third of all
Negroes would apply for discharge. An even higher percentage of
discharge requests was expected from among black marines overseas. The
commandant agreed to make the offer, except to the stewards, and in
the next six months black strength dropped by 700 men.[10-19]

[Footnote 10-19: Memo, Dir, Div of Plans and Policies,
for CMC, 28 May 47, sub: Program for Accelerated
Attrition of Negro Marines, A0-1; Maj S. M. Adams,
"Additional Directives From Plans and Policies--3
June 1947," 3 Jun 47; Speed Ltr, CMC to CG, Marine
Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, N.C., et al., 8
May 47, A0-1; Memo, CMC to Depot Quartermaster,
Depot of Supplies, 3 Jun 47, sub: Discharge for the
Convenience of the Government Certain Enlisted
Negro Members of the Marine Corps, 070-15-447.]

Even t