Hosted and narrated by Academy Award-winning actor Louis Gossett, Jr., this film profiles the first African American recruits in the United States Marine Corps, beginning with their experiences at Montford Point Base, a segregated boot camp in the heart of the Jim Crow South. All-black battalions from Montford Point loyally served their country (some as officers) in three major conflicts - World War II, the Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam War - while fighting for their civil rights back home. During the film, Montford Point veterans recount the racism they faced both within and outside the military and reminisce about the rigors of basic training, the harsh conditions of the barracks, and the perils of combat.

Thursday, 2/21/08 from 10-11 p.m. ET