Oscar Culp was born in May 1925 in Charlotte, North Carolina. As a young African-American, he saw some of the biases and uncomfortable situations he had to face. He yearned for a better way of life. When he joined the United States Marine Corps, he found an acceptable lifestyle. His mother had instructed him to obey orders and do his best as a Marine. Culp did not initially understand some of the orders given to him at Montford Point training camp in Jacksonville, North Carolina, but he tried his best to follow them. It did not take long for him to catch on to boot camp life. He had been informed to not bring money or personal effects with him to training. The food and clothing provided to him was good. Even better, it was free. Shortly after his arrival, the Marine Corps even paid him for his efforts. It was such a positive feeling that when offered leave [Annotator's Note: an authorized absence for a short period of time] to go home after boot camp, he told his mother that he might stay put to maintain his position. After Montford Point, he was fortunate to be promoted directly to the non-commissioned officer rank of corporal, bypassing the rank of Private First Class. He found that he liked the Marine Corps. He was sent for advanced training in Connecticut [Annotator's Note: no specific location was provided] before his overseas deployment to American Samoa.

Oscar Culp was deployed to American Samoa [Annotator's Note: after joining the Marine Corps and training in 1943]. On a beautiful beach, the young Samoan children thought that the Black soldiers were American Indians. Six months later, his outfit [Annotator's Note: 7th Marine Depot Company] was transferred to Ellice Island [Annotator's Note: the Gilbert and Ellice Islands are in the western central Pacific Ocean]. Damaged heavy equipment was transferred back to the United States for repair from there. After Ellice Island, Culp was assigned to Hawaii to perform heavy construction work. He was stationed on Saipan [Annotator's Note: Saipan, Mariana Islands] after the work. His outfit had to guard Japanese prisoners of war who were incrementally repatriated to their homeland. Caretaking of the prisoners was good duty. Culp next went to Guam [Annotator's Note: Guam, Mariana Islands] in 1947 and trained to be a fire chief, despite only holding the rank of staff sergeant. After two years there with 21 men in his command, he returned to a supply school in the United States. Graduating there, he was sent to New Jersey as a Supply Administration Chief. Serving two years there, he was transferred to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and, subsequently, overseas to Japan. He served there for two years as Supply Administration Chief. He then returned to Barstow, California as an acting Master Sergeant and Plant Accounting Chief. Next, he was stationed at Twentynine Palms [Annotator's Note: then Marine Corps Training Center Twentynine Palms in Twentynine Palms, California] as Supply Chief. He preferred the assignment on Guam as Fire Chief. He had good men and discipline was fine. Culp's last six years in the military were at Camp Pendleton [Annotator's Note: Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in San Diego County, California] as Plant Accounting Chief. He had accounting responsibility for any assets on the base valued in excess of 200 dollars. Any changes to buildings had to be accounted for through his records. He had a cadre of civil service workers under his authority. He worked so hard that he ended up in the hospital. Nevertheless, he loved the work and could maintain detailed records even with very limited computing capability. Equipment with punch cards was the most sophisticated method for computing and record keeping that he had assigned to him. After 27 years of military service, Culp retired from the Marine Corps. He seldom took leave [Annotator's Note: an authorized absence for a short period of time] during his military career. He planned to take time off after his retirement. In actuality, he had planned his retirement career with two associates prior to leaving the Marine Corps. He finds himself very busy in retirement, perhaps even more than in the Marine Corps.

Oscar Culp performed much civic work for the city of Oceanside [Annotator's Note: Oceanside, California]. [Annotator's Note: Culp lists many duties he performed and honors he received as a result of his civic commitment to the city of Oceanside.] His retirement has been an active time for him. He also manages his business and has done so since 1962. Culp had two siblings, a brother and a sister. His brother was fatally wounded in Korea and his sister has passed. Culp continues his work on the Earth. He is a long-term Methodist Church member and officer. As a young boy, he dreamed of a better life than he experienced in Charlotte [Annotator's Note: Charlotte, North Carolina]. He attained that lifestyle. He has no ill-feelings toward his birthplace. Charlotte is highly regarded.

Oscar Culp was based at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii when the war with Japan ended. He remembers the day [Annotator's Note: Victory Over Japan Day, 15 August 1945] very well. He almost got into trouble for having a civilian female friend on the base. She gained access to the base to help Culp celebrate the end of hostilities. Culp was reported by an antagonist who tried to get him in hot water. Luckily, Culp was close to his commanding officer who protected his subordinate from punishment. Some of Culp's best friends were killed on Iwo Jima [Annotator's Note: Iwo Jima, Japan] after serving with him in the Fire Department [Annotator's Note: Culp served two years as Fire Chief with the Marine Corps Fire Department on Guam, Mariana Islands]. Culp found his training at Montford Point [Annotator's Note: Montford Point Camp in Jacksonville, North Carolina] to be well scheduled. Wake up was early and rushed to get outside to breakfast. Marching and training were constant. Since Culp was tall, he served as right guide up front of the column. The DIs, or drill instructors, were vicious. There was no recourse but adjust to the harsh treatment. One man who fell out of step with the column was abused by the DI in front of his colleagues. Some methods used back in that time are no longer acceptable or tolerated. The men had to march into the bay until the water was at their neck with full battle gear. After a brief lunch, there was more training in the afternoon. Each Marine was taught that he could handle two opponents. Map and compass reading in the dark added to the difficulty of the training. The White DIs in early 1943 were mostly from the South. There were no Black instructors. That seemed to work out really good with no major problems. After boot camp, a Marine was tough. The individual viewed himself as being mentally and physically ready to defend the country. Culp worked with damaged equipment after being sent to Ellice Island [Annotator's Note: the Gilbert and Ellice Islands are in the western central Pacific Ocean]. The heavy equipment was hit by enemy fire prior to reaching Culp's outfit [Annotator's Note: 7th Marine Depot Company]. The Japanese bombed the Marines on Ellice Island. The equipment would be returned to Barstow [Annotator's Note: Barstow, California] as a repair center. The lack of rain at Barstow made it appealing for keeping equipment from suffering from corrosion. Twentynine Palms [Annotator's Note: Twentynine Palms, California] was utilized as a desert training center. The deployment of Culp to the Pacific Ocean was exciting. It was a different world and an adventure to him.

Oscar Culp was able to write home during the time of his military service. The cost of postage has risen sharply over time just as a carton of cigarettes has. While he was Fire Chief on the island of Guam [Annotator's Note: Guam, Mariana Islands], automobiles were very inexpensive. Culp encountered few incidents of racism while overseas. Color was not a differentiator between the Marines unless liquor became involved. Normally, overseas in combat, everyone works together. Differences were stressed more upon return to the United States. Most Afro-Americans [Annotator's Note: African-Americans] were disheartened after fighting for the country when they still experienced bigotry upon returning to the United States. In Virginia, German prisoners of war were treated more fairly than the returning Black troops who had previously guarded enemy troops. It was very hurtful. The military integrated prior to civilians. That proved to the nation that Blacks were capable and could do well. The Tuskegee Airman [Annotator's Note: nickname for airmen who trained at Tuskegee Army Airfield in Tuskegee, Alabama then served with the 332nd Fighter Group or 477th Bombardment Group] did their best and showed what they could do. No one asked for anything other than a fair chance to do what other people do. In today's military, many high ranking officers are highly decorated Black officers. Blacks are willing to fight and give up their lives just like anyone else.