Rising Stars: Meet Johnny Higdon of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Johnny Higdon.

Hi Johnny, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My childhood was average an uneventful. I grew up in a small town known as Thomasville Georgia. I worked at a local grocery store at an early age to help make ends meet at home. I was a small kid all the way through high school. My small size led me to play tennis versus the common sport in the area of football. While I was pretty good at tennis, I didn’t see a way forward because I did not wan to go to college after high school. I was a good student in school, but wanted a break. I stumbled across the military recruiting office one day while hanging out with a friend who was looking to join. The recruiter saw me, and the rest as they say is history.

I joined the Marine Corps shortly after graduation and served for 30 years retiring as the Installation Sergeant Major of Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany. During my time I was proud to achieve the highest enlisted rank in the Marines and I was able to earn a Masters Degree in Information Security.

Like many veterans, I believed retirement would mark the end of my service. Instead, it led me to a new mission.

Today, I serve as President of Atlanta Chapter 5 of the National Montford Point Marine Association, Inc.®, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit veterans organization dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Montford Point Marines, the first African Americans admitted into the Marine Corps beginning in 1942.

Many people view their story through the lens of race, but it is really a story about patriotism, perseverance, and opportunity. These young men answered their nation’s call to serve during World War II and proved that African Americans were just as worthy of earning the title Marine as anyone else. Their success helped pave the way for the integration of the Armed Forces and expanded opportunities for future generations of Americans.

Today, our chapter educates the public, supports veterans, and actively searches for Montford Point Marines and their families so they can receive the recognition they earned. That mission has become my life’s work because the world needs to know about the Montford Point Marines.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of our biggest challenges is awareness. Many Americans have never heard of the Montford Point Marines, despite their significant contribution to our nation’s history.

Another challenge is helping people understand who we are. While we preserve the legacy of the first African Americans to serve in the Marine Corps, we are not a race-based organization. We are a veterans organization whose membership is open to all honorably served veterans and currently serving members of the Armed Forces regardless of race, creed, color, or national origin.

The Montford Point Marines fought to prove that opportunity should be based on ability and character. Their success helped eliminate barriers that affected generations of Americans who followed.

We also face a race against time. Nearly 20,000 African Americans trained at Montford Point between 1942 and 1949. To date, just over 4,000 have been identified by the National Montford Point Marine Association. Every year, fewer Original Montford Point Marines remain with us. That is why our members across the country continue searching for Marines and their families before their stories are lost forever.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As President of Atlanta Chapter 5, I lead community engagement efforts designed to educate the public on the service and sacrifice of the Montford Point Marines. We conduct speaking engagements, youth programs, veteran outreach initiatives, scholarship programs, Congressional Gold Medal presentations, and historical preservation projects throughout Georgia.

What sets us apart is that we are not simply preserving history—we are actively uncovering it. In 2012, the Montford Point Marines were collectively awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, one of the nation’s highest civilian honors. However, thousands of eligible families have never received the medal because their loved one’s service at Montford Point has not yet been verified.

Our members work nationwide to identify these Marines, verify their service, locate surviving family members, and present the Congressional Gold Medal on behalf of a grateful nation. Every time we identify a previously unknown Montford Point Marine, we reconnect a family to a remarkable chapter of American history.

I am most proud of the impact Atlanta Chapter 5 has made in bringing these stories to light. Through our efforts, more families are learning about their loved ones’ service, more young people are hearing this history, and more communities are discovering how the Montford Point Marines helped change America for the better.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
The quality most important to my success is persistence. The Montford Point Marines overcame barriers that seemed impossible at the time. Their example reminds me that meaningful work requires patience, determination, and a commitment to a cause larger than yourself.

Pricing:

• Chapter 5 Annual Membership – $75

Contact Info:

• Website: https://atl-mpma.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/montfordpointmarinesatlantach5/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nmpma5/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/atlantachapter5
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MPMATLCH5
• Other: https://dsvp-llc.com/atl-5-nmpma-digital-story