Mark Weber posted on February 01, 2012 10:22
February / March 2012 - Navy
By Mark T. Weber
Curator, United States Navy Memorial Foundation
During World War II, the Navy greatly expanded opportunities for African Americans. Samuel L. Gravely, Jr. joined the Navy in 1942, and became the service’s first Black commissioned officer in 1944. Gravely finally got his chance to fight for his country when he was assigned to anti-submarine patrol aboard the sub chaser USS PC-1264. Among his many firsts, Gravely was the first African American to command a US Navy warship, the first to become a flag officer and the first to rise to the rank of vice admiral. VADM Gravely retired in 1980, after 38 years of service to the nation and was honored as the namesake of an Arleigh Burke class destroyer.
Jesse Leroy Brown joined the Navy in 1946, and became a naval aviator in 1948. During the Korean War, Brown was the first African American naval aviator to fly combat missions. While flying an F-4U Corsair fighter from USS LEYTE (CV-32) on a mission over the Chosin Reservoir, Brown’s aircraft was hit by ground fire and forced down. Despite heroic rescue efforts by his wingman, LTJG Thomas Hudner, Brown perished in his crashed plane, becoming the first naval officer to die in the Korean War.
Carl Brashear joined the Navy in 1948, and in 1954 became the first African American graduate of the Navy Diving & Salvage School. He would later rise to the rank of master chief petty officer and become the first African American Navy Master Diver. Displaying amazing determination, Brashear also became the first amputee to be recertified as a Navy Diver. His inspirational story was told in the 2000 film “Men of Honor.”
We encourage you to visit www.navylog.org to view the Navy Logs of these pioneers or add your own story to the permanent registry of sea service.
Black History Month
February is Black History Month, a fitting time to honor the important service that African Americans have rendered to our nation. African American sailors have fought bravely in every American conflict, and sixteen have been awarded the Navy Medal of Honor. The United States Navy Memorial’s Navy Log features numerous inspirational stories of pioneering men and women who struggled against racism in their desire to serve their country.