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The Montford Point Marine Association (MPMA) is a nonprofit military veteran’s organization, founded to memorialize the legacy of the first African Americans to serve in the United States Marine Corps. The first African American U.S. Marines were trained at Camp Montford Point, in Jacksonville, North Carolina, from 1942 to 1949.
Wall of 20,000 Stars and Montford Point Marine Memorial Fund
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L to R Fred L. Codes and Ambassador Theodore R. Britton
Ambassador Theodore R. Britton/National Montford Point Marine Association, Inc
Ambassador Theodore R. Britton Jr. was born on October 17, 1925 in North Augusta, South Carolina to Bessie B. and Theodore R. Britton, Sr. His family relocated to New York City in 1936. Britton left high school in January of 1944 to join the U. S. Marine Corps where he served in the Pacific Theater during World War II. After being discharged, he enrolled at New York University until the beginning of the Korean War. Britton was then called to active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps where he served until May of 1951. He then resumed his studies at New York University and graduated with his B.A. degree in banking and finance in February of 1952.
Britton worked as a mortgage officer and head of the mortgage department at Carver Federal Savings and Loan Association from 1955 to 1964. From there, he became president of the American Baptist Convention and a leader in the non-profit housing field. Britton was then invited to join the federal government by Harry Finger, who was head of Research and Technology in the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Britton closed his offices in New York and Pennsylvania and decided to join HUD in 1971 as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology. As the HUD official managing international research, his volunteer program for the U. S. Information Agency attracted favorable attention. Britton was nominated by President Gerald R. Ford to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to Barbados and Grenada and as the U. S. Special Representative to Antigua, Dominica, St. Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla, St. Lucia and St. Vincent on November 17, 1974. Britton was elected as vice-chair of the Group on Urban Affairs at the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in 1971, and later as president. His resignation as Ambassador was accepted by President Jimmy Carter in May of 1977.
Upon retirement, Britton was honored by the City Councils of Newark, New Jersey and Washington, D.C. He was presented with the Congressional Gold Medal on June 30, 2012 in recognition of his services with the U.S. Marine Corps’ Montford Point Marines. Britton is a Life Member of the Second Marine Division, Montford Point Marine Association, and the Association for Intelligence Officers. On March 2, 2013, he joined the Marine Corps Commandant and other officials as a U. S. Navy ship was christened to honor the Montford Point Marines. Britton has served as Honorary Consul General for the Republic of Albania since 2006. He is also the Honorary Chairman of Kristal University in Tirana, Albania where her was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws degree in 2009.
Ambassador Britton dot com Preserving the Legacy Membership Directory 
Fred L. Codes /Chief Warrant Officer4 (ret)
Fred L. Codes was elected as President of The Montford Point Marine Association, Atlanta Chapter 5 in October 2011. He served as Vice President of The Montford Point Marine Association, Atlanta Chapter 5 from October 2009 to October 2011. During this tenure, he assisted in having the national convention in Atlanta. He helped build relationships in the community on behalf of the Montford Point Marine Association as well as locating Original Montford Point Marines in the Atlanta Area and convinced them in joining the Atlanta Chapter. He was and is a consummate leader in driving membership to the chapter. He was instrumental in implementing the lead at the following events: Homeless Veterans Standdown, AT&T Black History Month Program, Home Depot Salute to Veterans, EPA Salute to Veterans, Honor Air Flight that took WWII Veterans to visit all the Memorials including the WWII Memorial in Washington, DC to name a few. Chief Warrant Officer Codes plays a vital role in the Association by leading the way for other members to follow. In addition to his time as President of The Atlanta Chapter, Chief Warrant Officer (ret) Codes served thirty years (30) years in the military. Four years was served in the U.S. Air Force and TwentySix years was served in the Marine Corps. He served in many capacities from Military Police, Administrative Clerk, Marine Corps Recruiter, Personnel Officer, Legal Officer and Manpower Officer. His tour of duties and other assignments were in Germany, Northern California, Okinawa, Japan, Milwaukee, WI, Atlanta, GA, Baltimore, MD, Southern California, Long Island New York and another tour of duty in Atlanta, GA and then again in Okinawa, Japan and his subsequent retirement in Albany, GA in July 2001. He holds a Business Management Degree and currently works in the Residential Real Estate Market. His professional military education includes The Basic School, Amphibious Warfare School, Personnel Officer’s School, Recruiter’s School, Personnel Administration School, Military Police School, Staff NonCommissioned Officer’s Academy, Legal Officer’s School and Air Force and Marine Corps Basic Training. His awards includes the Meritorious Service Medal (2nd Award), Navy Commendation Medal w/1 star, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy Achievement Medal w/1 star, National Defense Service Medal w/1 star, Air Force Good Conduct Medal, Good Conduct Medal w/2 stars. In addition to my career as a Marine and my real estate career, I know that it is my responsibility to give back to my community. T h e r e f o r e , Isit on the Board of Directors for North Fulton Community Charities that caters to the needy in our surrounding [FRED’S BIO] August 14, 2013 3 areas. I also sit on the Board of Directors for Giving Children a Chance (GCAC) that helps foster children find l oving homes. Additionally, I have served as the Ministry Chair for my church, in which I coordinate all local, regional and international missions to help the least, last and lost for the past seven (7) years. We have built a manse, water purification projects, and HIV programs, to name a few in Ghana, West Africa for three (3) years. We are in our fifth (5th) year in Haiti providing medical services to those that still desperately need it and we will conduct our third trip to Kenya to build homes for orphans as well as finishing renovation on a church in Jamaica that will be rededicated back to the community this year. I also engage our youth by coordinating missions trips regionally for them annually to help those less fortunate, they went to New Jersey this year to help those affected by hurricane Sandy.
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One comment on “Ambassador Theodore R. Britton and CWO4 (ret) Fred L. Codes with The Montford Point Marines Association”
Thank you for honoring the Montford Point Marines who risked their lives for ALL Americans during a time when America did not recognize their sacrifices.