PHOTO GALLERY: Marine veteran awarded Congressional Medal of Honor

August 2, 2012 | 6:00 a.m. CDT

Lawrence Diggs received the Congressional Gold Medal received last month for his service in one of the nation's first predominantly African-American Marine units.

Lawrence Diggs, wearing the hat he got in 1943 as part of his uniform, recalls his memory of the time he was in the Marines at his Columbia home July 24. Born in Mississippi, Diggs spent his teen years in Chicago and joined the Marines at the age of 18. | Yi Gan

Lawrence Diggs received the Certificate of Appreciation for his service for the Montford Point Marines Final Roll Call project in 2004. | Yi Gan

Lawrence Diggs stands at ease for a portrait, wearing the Congressional Gold Medal he received last month, July 24 at his Columbia home. Diggs joined the Marine Corps in 1943 and he left the corps in 1946 as a corporal. | Yi Gan