Edgar Huff Edgar R . Huff ( December 2 , 1919 – May 2 , 1994 ) was the first African - American in the United States Marine Corps to be promoted to the rank of Sergeant Major . Marine Corps service . Huff , a native of Gadsden , Alabama , enlisted in the Marine Corps on September 24 , 1942 as one of the first African - Americans to do so . Huff received his recruit training with the 51st Composite Defense Battalion , Montford Point Camp , New River , North Carolina . Following graduation , he joined the 155mm gun battery of the 51st Composite Defense Battalion and served with that unit as a gun commander . In early 1943 , he was assigned duty under instruction at drill instructor s school , and upon completion of his course , was assigned duty as a drill instructor in March 1943 . At that time , Montford Point Camp was the receiving point for all blacks entering the Marine Corps , and by November 1944 , Huff had been assigned duty as field sergeant major of all recruit training at the Montford Point Camp . In November 1944 , he was promoted to first sergeant and assigned duty with the 5th Depot Company , departing for the Western Pacific area , serving as first sergeant with this unit on Saipan , Okinawa , and in North China . The 5th Depot Company furnished logistic support for Marine divisions in that area . Gilbert Johnson , the only other black sergeant major besides Huff to serve during World War II , was Huff ' s brother - in - law . They were married to twin sisters . Following World War II , he served as Non - Commissioned Officer in Charge of Recruit Training at Montford Point Camp until May 1949 . He was then assigned duty as guard and infantry chief , Marine Barracks , Naval Ammunition Depot , Earle , New Jersey , until May 1951 , at which time he assumed duty with the famed 1st Marine Division in Korea . There , he saw combat as a company gunnery sergeant with the 2nd Battalion 1st Marines , and participated in operations in the " Punch Bowl " area , eastern front , and in the spring - summer offensive on the West Central front . Upon his return to the United States in August 1952 , he was assigned to the 2nd Marine Division , serving as First Sergeant , Weapons Company , 2nd Battalion 8th Marines . In March 1955 , he was assigned duty as Guard Chief , Marine Barracks , Naval Air Station , Fort Lyautey , French Morocco . Huff was promoted to first sergeant in the new rank structure on December 30 , 1955 , and to the rank of sergeant major a day later on December 31 , 1955 . From that date he served at the following Marine Corps installations : Post Sergeant Major , Marine Barracks , Port Lyautey , French Morocco ; with the 2nd Force Service Regiment ; Landing Force Training Unit , Little Creek , Virginia ; the 3rd Marine Division , Fleet Marine Force , Okinawa ; the 3rd Force Service Regiment ; the 1st Infantry Training Regiment , Camp Geiger , Camp Lejeune , North Carolina ; Base Sergeant Major , Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton , California ; the 1st Military Police Battalion , Force Logistic Command , and with the III Marine Amphibious Force , Republic of Vietnam ( May 1967 - June 1968 ) ; and with the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing ( July 1968 - October 1970 ) . Huff served a second tour of duty in the Republic of Vietnam , as Sergeant Major with the III Marine Amphibious Force from October 1970 until October 1971 . He then served as Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Air Station New River , Jacksonville , North Carolina , until his retirement on September 30 , 1972 . Huff died on May 2 , 1994 at Camp Lejeune Naval Hospital . Awards and decorations . Huff ' s awards and decorations include :