Ernest Jackson was born in Sumter, South Carolina. His family migrated [Annotator's Note: Great Migration, or Black Migration, 1916 to 1970] to Philadelphia [Annotator's Note: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania] in 1933 and moved into what was called "The Project" area where Blacks lived. His schools were segregated. His high school was his first integrated school. He turned 18 and was drafted. He had uncles and friends who had already gone in. He was eager to get in. That was when his other life began, what the world was like. He met different fellows and learned about things he never though existed. He went through basic training then got more training. He enjoyed it. There was some discrimination in the military against what were called Coloreds then. He was on a train with Caucasians and he was the only Afro-American, or Colored. The conductor had to segregate him, and he had to sit in the front of the train in the coal car. He did not see the men he started with until his destination. It was an experience. It was not until later in life that he found out what was happening at that time. After the war ended, they began to integrate the military. His military experience made his life and made him the man he is today. He came out and worked for the government. He raised a family and tried to be a good American. He has no regrets. He is proud that he is African-American and has helped lift America. He is still serving and helping to make this a great country.

Ernest Jackson received his draft notice. He did not know if he was going to qualify. He was amazed he passed that day. He was skinny and most of the soldiers were healthy. He looked forward to it. After growing up where the poor class of people live, he was able to work his way out of that. It was beautiful to go away from home, especially after not being able to go away. He told his mother he was leaving and the next day he was ready to go. He did experience racism in Philadelphia [Annotator's Note: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]. When he entered his first integrated school, he still had to take the last seat available. Philadelphia was a town that was sectioned off; the Irish, the Italians, the Jewish, the African-Americans. It was not integrated until after World War 2. You knew where to go and where not to go. It was understood. He did not know where he was going and had no idea Montford Point [Annotator's Note: Camp Montford Point, Jacksonville, North Carolina] existed. He did not even know there was a world out there that was training all Black Marines. Seeing a Marine was like seeing a silver dollar. It was a new world for him. It was a proud moment for him, wearing a Marine uniform and not an Army or Navy uniform. He had only known Marines from the movies. Great men like Glenn Ford [Annotator's Note: US Marine Corps Reserve Captain Gwyllyn Samuel Newton "Glenn" Ford; American actor], or Tyrone Power [Annotator’s Note: US Marine Corps Reserve Major Tyrone Edmund Power, III; American actor].

The hardest part of the Marines Corps for Ernest Jackson was basic training and learning to obey orders. But it was a chance for him to get into a new life. His intention was to make it. He had nothing to return to. This was going to be a better life. They had a swimming pool, movie theater, and there was a place to play pool and play music. They had Quonset huts to live in. It was nice and green with pretty lakes. The general idea was to make it and be proud of it. Firing a weapon for the first time was tricky. The M1 [Annotator's Note: Jackson is likely referring to the .30 caliber M1 semi-automatic carbine] was good for 50 feet. Firing that Winchester [Annotator's Note: Jackson is likely referring to the .30 caliber M1 semi-automatic rifle, also known as the M1 Garand] was a heavy one. It could fire 500 yards. It was beautiful and he loved it so much he made sharpshooter. He was assigned to that and earned a medal. Most of the guys were gung-ho. Some did not care too much for the service. Jackson did not have much of a family. His mother was working in a laundry. He knew he had a salary and good food. Sergeant Woods [Annotator's Note: unable to identify] was his drill instructor. He had a Corporal Baker [Annotator's Note: unable to identify] for guidance. Sergeant Huff [Annotator's Note: US Marine Corps Sergeant Major Edgar R. Huff] was the top man. They got along really well. He was trained well, and the instructors were going to make the best out of you. Hashmark Johnson [Annotator's Note: US Marine Corps Sergeant Major Gilbert "Hashmark" Johnson] and Judo Jones [Annotator's Note: US Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant Ernest C. "Judo" Jones] would come out on the field and they wanted you to love the service like they loved the service. He wanted to be them one day.

Ernest Jackson could go off base on furlough. Some bases, like some of the little towns including Havelock and Cherry Point [Annotator's Note: both in North Carolina], were where the whites were stationed. Sometimes there were would be run-ins. They had to look for where Coloreds get served. He did not know that when he went through Washington D.C. on a trip home for the weekend. It was early in the morning and the weather was bad. His bus could not continue. He wanted to take a cab to the train station. The cab would not drive him. He had money in his pocket. He had to take a trolley car instead. The same thing happened to him four or five months later in August when it was hot. He was returning to base from a trip, and went to get something to eat. He had to go to the Coloreds only section, but he was not told that. He got on the bus and had to sit in the back. It was hot and he moved to a window he could open. There were about 30 seats between the white people and Jackson. The bus driver made him move to the back seat. If he went to town, sometimes he would have to wait for a second bus because the back seat could be full. Once he had to wait for five hours.

Ernest Jackson was sitting in a movie theater watching a musical when the movie was stopped and it was announced that Pearl Harbor was bombed [Annotator's Note: the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on 7 December 1941]. Jackson did not know where it was. His uncles were stationed in France, Africa, and Jersey. His friend told him it was the Navy. He wanted to be a part of what was going on. His neighborhood had a Junior League that he belonged to. They drilled and went to the country on weekends. That gave him experience for the military and helped him become a platoon leader later. It was a place that African-Americans went to. He went in the heart of it. The first group went in 1942. It [Annotator's Note: Marine Corps Camp Montford Point, Jacksonville, North Carolina] was a place they knew they would be for a while. They built it up as a home away from home. They rebuilt things and they made the best out of anything. The cooks would compete with each other. He went to Guantanamo Bay [Annotator's Note: Guantanamo Bay, Cuba]. He did guard duty there. Troops were coming back. Some of the men were attached that had served in Guam [Annotator's Note: Guam, Mariana Islands], Solomon Islands, and Peleliu [Annotator's Note: Peleliu, Palau] that had served. He to make provision for the men coming in such as what room they would get, food, etc. until they started getting discharged. He heard a lot of stories about the jungles. One was about a beautiful woman in the Solomon Islands that would come down and look at them. He did not believe some of that. [Annotator's Note: The interviewer asks if he missed anything about Montford Point.] Montford Point today is different from what it was. Now everything is nice. He went down in 2007 and it is not what it was.

Ernest Jackson feels it is important for children to learn about World War 2. Each war is different. World War 2 was different from Vietnam [Annotator's Note: Vietnam War, or Second Indochina War, 1 November 1955 to 30 April 1975], different from Korea [Annotator's Note: Korean War, 25 June 1950 to 27 July 1953]. Jackson was called back for Korea. He had entered the service under the Roosevelt [Annotator's Note: Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 32nd President of the United States] Act 8802 [Annotator's Note: Executive Order 8802, 25 June 1941]. When Truman [Annotator's Note: Harry S. Truman, 33rd President of the United States] released the segregation [Annotator's Note: Executive Order 9981, 26 July 1948], he could have gone back in without losing rank. He got married, got a job, and went to school instead. When called back while still on Reserve, he had a brother and an uncle in Korea. They reclassified him. He went to work for the Postal Service [Annotator's Note: United States Postal Service]. He wanted to learn to be a tailor. He spent 31 years with the Postal Service. He feels that museums are important. When he came home, he was proud to wear his uniform. [Annotator's Note: Jackson explains that at the time of this interview, the military was discouraged from wearing their uniforms in public.] When soldiers came home, they came home proud in their uniforms with their medals. People can see that in museums. Jackson was drafted into the Marine Corps. A military service is a different part of your life. It moves boys to men. The average man should get a chance to go into the military. Some never get a chance to go from where they are born and raised, like him. The museum brings about the different countries and gives an education. He would go to museums as a kid in school. Every city should have a museum to see what makes the backbone of this country.

Ernest Jackson feels that his group [Annotator's Note: the African-American Marines at Montford Point Camp in Jacksonville, North Carolina ] assured that they [Annotator's Note: African-American Marines] fit in. They could serve their country. There was nothing out there that was too much for them. Hashmark Johnson [Annotator's Note: US Marine Corps Sergeant Major Gilbert "Hashmark" Johnson], Judo Jones [Annotator's Note: US Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant Ernest C. "Judo" Jones], and Huff [Annotator's Note: US Marine Corps Sergeant Major Edgar R. Huff] could not be officers because of their color, but they served as if they were. They trained those men to fit any squad, to serve in any war. They were able to prove that they were able. Roosevelt [Annotator's Note: Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 32nd President of the United States] and Truman [Annotator's Note: Harry S. Truman, 33rd President of the United States] said these men were all there to serve their country. Jackson was at Camp Pendleton [Annotator's Note: Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, San Diego County, California, years later] and it was amazing to see African-Americans there with bars on [Annotator's Note: officers]. He was particularly amazed with the females. Major General James invited Jackson there for Black History. Jackson saw him and his staff and they were so proud. [Annotator's Note: The interviewer asks about the Congressional Gold Medal they were authorized in 2011.] It means that Jackson was able to prove to his country that he loves and enjoyed serving his country. If this proves that he is part of America, he is thankful. He brought his family up to be good Americans. When he gets that medal, he will have more to say. He hopes that what is being done here [Annotator's Note: with this interview] helps move our society on and moves the younger generation on. So they know these men have helped the world be a better place today. He loves that it is on the record that as an African-American, he loves this country and he serves this country with honor.