MGySgt Jimmy Mills Hargrove, USMC (Ret.), 84, passed away on Tuesday, July 29th, 2014.

Jimmy was born on January 17, 1930 in Detroit, MI to parents with Cherokee and African-American background. He was the sixth of ten children. At the age of four, he was adopted by his maternal uncle and raised in Birmingham, AL where he completed elementary and high school. He graduated from Parker High School in 1948, and enlisted into the Marine Corps soon after. He reported to the segregated boot camp at Montford Point, in New River, NC. He endured the harsh and extremely challenging treatment at this segregated camp, to earn his place as a Marine. He was part of an elite group of pioneers, where from 1942 to 1949 close to 20,000 black men gave their blood and sweat to become Marines and have the right to fight for their country as equals.
He continued to lead and break barriers during his military career. He served during the Korean War (52-53) and the Vietnam War (70-71) and mentored thousands of Marines throughout his career. While stationed at Quantico Marine base in Virginia, he was the only military member to own commercial property near the main entrance of the Marine base, which comprised of a restaurant and a beauty parlor. Additionally while stationed at Quantico, he was instrumental in the integration of the American Legion Chapter 13, in Dumfries, VA. Following his service at Camp Allen in Norfolk, VA, Jimmy retired after 30 years with the outstanding rank of Master Gunnery Sergeant in 1978.
Jimmy began his second career at the Virginian-Pilot Newspaper. He rapidly received promotion from district manager to zone manager and again to circulation manager in the city of Portsmouth, VA. Jimmy was later promoted to Asst. Property Manager in charge of security and maintenance employees on a 24-hr call basis. He retired from the paper in 1993 and became involved in politics.
In 1994, Jimmy was an election official for the city of Virginia Beach. He also served as co-campaign manager for Winsome Sears. He served in several capacities as the Asst. National Coordinator for the “Washington for Jesus Prayer Rally” in Washington, DC and State Coordinator for Point Man International Ministries (an organization that counsels warriors diagnosed with PTSD). He was actively involved in the Cheroenhaka Nottoway Indian Tribe, VFW and Fleet Reserve.
At the U.S Capitol on June 27th 2012, Jimmy Hargrove and close to 400 of his fellow Montford Point Marines were awarded the highest civilian honor for their service and sacrifice to the Marine Corps and this great nation. He received the Congressional Gold Medal, with the inscription “For Outstanding Perseverance and Courage that inspired Social Change in the MARINE CORPS.”
He is survived by his wife, the former Cheryl Hargrove and their five sons and four grandchildren.

A celebration of MGySgt Hargrove’s life will be held at 11:00 at Saturday, August 2, 2014 at Rock Church International, 640 Kempsville Road Virginia Beach, VA 23464 with a visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial will be held at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, December 8, 2014 at 0900.

Please read the tribute that the Virginian Pilot did on MGYSGT. Hargrove’s life and his service.

http://hamptonroads.com/2012/08/va-beach-marine-withstood-segregation-serve

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Thank you, Master Gunnery Sergeant Hargrove, for your service to our country in the Marines.