e Marine Corps to commission Rudder, but
that he was only the first of several Negroes who would be applying
for commissions in the next few years through the Naval Reserve
Officers' Training Corps. Since the reserve corps program was a vital
part of the plan to expand Marine Corps officer strength, rejecting a
graduate on account of race, General Robinson warned, might jeopardize
the entire plan. He thought that Rudder should be accepted for duty.
Rudder was appointed a second lieutenant in the Regular Marine Corps
on 28 May 1948 and ordered to Quantico for basic schooling.[10-49] In
1949 Lieutenant Rudder resigned. Indicative of the changing civil
rights scene was the apprehension shown by some Marine Corps officials
about public reaction to the resignation. But although Rudder reported
instances of discrimination at Quantico--stemming for the most (p. 267)
part from a lack of military courtesy that amounted to outright
ostracism--he insisted his decision to resign was based on personal
reasons and was irreversible. The Director of Public Information was
anxious to release an official version of the resignation,[10-50] but
other voices prevailed, and Rudder's exit from the corps was handled
quietly both at headquarters and in the press.[10-51]

[Footnote 10-49: Memo, Dir, Div of Plans and Policies,
for CMC, 11 May 48, sub: Appointment to
Commissioned Rank in the Regular Marine Corps, Case
of Midshipman John Earl Rudder, A0-1; see also Dept
of Navy Press Release, 25 Aug 48.]

[Footnote 10-50: Memo, Dir of Public Information for
CMC, 11 Feb 49, sub: Publicity on Second Lieutenant
John Rudder, USMC, AG 1364; see also Ltr, Lt Cmdr
Dennis Nelson to James C. Evans, 24 Feb 70, CMH
files.]

[Footnote 10-51: Memo, Oliver Smith for CMC, 11 Feb
49, with attached CMC note.]

[Illustration: LIEUTENANT AND MRS. BRANCH.]

The brief active career of one black officer was hardly evidence of a
great racial reform, but it represented a significant breakthrough
because it affirmed the practice of integrated officer training and
established the right of Negroes to command. And Rudder was quickly
followed by other black officer candidates, some of whom made careers
in the corps. Rudder's appointment marked