JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
Louis Turner Jr., 87, was recognized for his service to our country during World War II.
Turner was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal on Saturday afternoon at Central United Methodist Church in Jackson. Friends and family helped him celebrate the occasion.
The Jackson man was one of more than 19,000 Montford Point Marines that integrated the U.S. Marine Corps in World War II.
Only about 500 are living today.
Turner trained at the North Carolina camp then served in the south Pacific. He says making history wasn't on the mind of the African-American Marines during the war.
"The chaplain who swore me in, he told me what to expect when I got there. So, he wasn't wrong. So, we went through quite a bit. Number one, we were proud to be a Marine and we were proud to serve our country," recalls Turner.
The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian honor given by Congress.
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