Daughter of First Black Marine Calls Out Trump’s DEI Removal of Her Father’s Tribute

Daughter of First Black Marine Calls Out Trump’s DEI Removal of Her Father’s Tribute

Nationwide — The daughter of Alfred Masters, the first African American man enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, says she’s shocked that a webpage honoring her father was quietly removed from the Marine Corps website. She believes it was taken down as part of a Pentagon review of diversity-related content.

Alfreda Masters said her father was initially rejected by the Marines in 1942 because he was Black. But after a recruiter later offered him the chance to enlist, he became the first Black Marine. He served in a segregated unit during World War II and reached the rank of technical sergeant. His service included deployments in Guam and the South Pacific. Until recently, the Marine Corps had honored him in a Black History Month article, which also recognized the Montford Point Marines — the first group of Black Marines who served during segregation. That page now leads to a “404 Not Found” error.

Alfreda called the page removal “unbelievable.” She said she discovered the page was gone when she called Camp Lejeune to ask if her father would be honored again this year. The base reportedly told her they no longer highlight individual figures during cultural awareness months.

“I’m sad and angry at the same time,” Masters told ABC News.

In a statement, the Marine Corps said it had removed content related to cultural awareness months like Black History Month but clarified that historical mentions of Montford Point Marines, including Alfred Masters, remain elsewhere on their site.

Alfreda believes this move erases an important part of American history, not just Black history. She recalled how her father faced racism even after his service — including being forced to ride in a mail car on his way home because of segregation laws in the South.

Despite her disappointment, she remains hopeful. “I have faith in this country,” she said. “We’ll get back what’s our due. It’s just another battle.”