The state recently honored a more than century-old veteran, who is one of the last living . Cosmas Eaglin Sr. is also a World War II and Korean War veteran living in Fayetteville.
Last week, Secretary Walter Gaskin presented Eaglin with a certificate of appreciation and the department鈥檚 challenge coin to recognize him for his service. The ceremony also marked Eaglin's 108th birthday. Gaskin is a retired Lt. Gen. of the United States Marine Corps.
鈥淎s an original Montford Point Marine, he endured unimaginable obstacles in the segregated Marine Corps,鈥� Gaskin said, . 鈥淏ecause he was a Marine, I am able to be a Marine.鈥�
Eaglin was one of the first 300 Black recruits at Camp Montford Point in Jacksonville, North Carolina, after President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an executive order establishing the Fair Employment Practices Commission in 1941.
Eaglin also completed two years in the Solomon Islands Campaign during the Pacific War of World War II. Later, he joined the U.S. Army as a paratrooper. Eaglin served two tours in the Vietnam War in the 1960s.
During the celebration on Jan. 12, he was surrounded by his family. Eaglin has 6 children, 7 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren.
