COVER STORY
“This is not just a mark in history, but what it means for those younger across society that want to aspire and look at the Marine Corps as an opportunity.” Brother General Langley went on to pay homage to “those who have gone be- fore,” recognizing Frederick C. Branch (Alpha Epsilon 1942, Chapter Invisible 2005), the first commissioned African American Marine, and the Mont- ford Point Marines, the first African Americans to enlist in the Marines who trained at a segregated facility in Montford Point, North Carolina. He also spoke of the importance of diversity in the military to “maintain a decisive advantage over our strategic competi- tors.” The Marine Corps had refused to recruit African Americans and other minorities until a 1941 executive order signed by President Franklin D. Roo- sevelt that “forced the Corps, despite objections from its leadership,” to start recruiting Black Marines the following year. James N. “Jim” Mattis, 26 th Secretary of Defense and retired U.S. Marine four- star General stated, “He’s a Marine’s Marine,” praising General Langley’s operational and intellectual prowess. General Langley shared the following experiences from the perspective of
the four points of the diamond.
mand from Gun Platoon Commander to Marine Forces Command, I knew the importance of military dependents. Donna Berger…Stacie Black led the way in taking care of families. So please, everyone, for what they do for spouse employment, education of military children, moreover for military veterans establishing networks to ensure as they come out of uniform, that they have an outlet to ensure they can become fully employed…. Everyone, please recognize their accomplishments now by giving them a round of applause.”
Blessings Brother General Langley began his remarks by emotionally stating, “I’m kind of taken right now. This is all about thank you! Commandant, thank you, Donna, for welcoming us into your home today and carrying out this ceremony. We know it is a milestone for our Corps and our country. Sir, I want to thank you for the things you’ve done for our Corps, our service, our depart- ment, and the Department of Defense writ large. Sir, if you will indulge me for one minute, I want to thank some other folks.” Family General Langley shared some thoughts on the importance of family. “I know the importance of family. I know what it takes for family readiness because, almost fifty years ago, my father was a Master Sergeant at McChord Air Force Base. I was up late one night studying, and my father came in with my grand- mother from the hospital. He told me to wake the rest of my siblings to tell us that our mother had succumbed to cancer. Back then, there was were no counseling. He just huddled up. He cried with us once. He told us to suck it up. There were no special family programs. So as I transitioned Com-
Work General Langley proceeded to re-
flect upon his role as an officer in the Corps by expressing gratitude to the 38 th Commandant, the Marine Corps and Those Who Have Gone Before us.“Commandant, back to you, Sir. We received Commandants Planning Guid- ance. We knew there were some tenets that we had to address. We knew part of that was about the pool of talent the Marine has, the pool of talent the Ma- rine Corps needs to maintain to execute Force Design 2030. We need to retain talent. So with that, we talk about diver- sity. We talk about inclusion and equity. But let me talk about diversity real quick and the make-up of that. Because with this milestone, we recognize that is about those who gone before.” Diversity “I think it’s my moral responsibility to recognize those who gone before. Presi- dent Roosevelt, in his 1941 Executive Order 8802, saw that it was essential that everybody should have the oppor- tunity to serve their country in uniform and fight for their country. So he signed, but we probably know Eleanor had much to do with that, too. She was the one to ensure that the Tuskegee Airman got their time in Alabama.” “But with that, the Marine Corps established Montford Point. Those are the ones that have gone before, my metaphor of choice. I know people say paved the way,’ but I think they plowed the way. Anyone in farming knows that
U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Michael E. Langley’s mother and father wait for their son's promotion ceremony to begin at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., August 6, 2022. Photos by Sgt. Karis Mattingly,
30 | SPRING 2022 ♦ THE JOURNAL
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