Samuel Gravely
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Admiral Samuel Lee Gravely, Jr., (June 4 1922-October 22 2004), was an African-American Navy pioneer and a native of Richmond, Virginia. After two years at Virginia Union University, he enlisted in the Naval Reserves on September 15, 1942 and was trained as a Fireman Apprentice. In 1943, he participated in the Navy V-12 program, which was designed to select and train Naval officers. As part of this training, he attended the University of California in Los Angeles, Pre-Midshipman School in New Jersey, and Midshipmen School at Columbia University. On December 14, 1944 Gravely successfully completed midshipman training, thereby becoming the first African American commissioned as an officer from the Navy Reserve Officer Training Course.
As a newly commissioned Ensign, his first assignment was to Camp Robert Smalls, as the Assistant Battalion Commander for new recruits. Afterwards, he began his seagoing career as a sailor aboard the USS PC-1264, a submarine chaser that was one of only two World War II ships with a largely African-American crew.
In April 1946, he was released from active duty, remaining in the Naval Reserve. He returned to his hometown of Richmond to complete his bachelor's degree in History. He was also among the first African-Americans to attend the Naval War College in 1962.
Gravely was recalled to active duty in 1949. As part of the Navy's response to President Harry S. Truman's Executive Order to desegregate the Armed Services, his initial assignment was as a Navy Recruiter, recruiting African-Americans in the Washington, D.C. area.
Gravely went from recruiting to building a Navy career that lasted 38 years and included many distinguished accomplishments. He became the first African-American to command a U.S. Navy warship (USS Theodore E. Chandler), the first African-American to command an American warship under combat conditions (USS Taussig), the first African-American to command a major naval warship (USS Jouett), the first African-American admiral, the first African-American to rise to the rank of Vice Admiral, and the first African-American to command a U.S. Fleet (Commander, US 3rd Fleet).
Admiral Gravely was assigned tours of duty aboard the following: USS PC-1264, USS Iowa, USS Toledo and USS Seminole. He served as Executive Officer and Commanding Officer of the USS Theodore E. Chandler. Additionally, he was the Commanding Officer of the USS Falgout, USS Taussig, and USS Jouett. His last tour of duty before his retirement in August 1980, was as Director of the Defense Communications Agency in Washington, overseeing the communications network linking Washington with American and allied bases worldwide.
Admiral Gravely was also highly decorated, with decorations including the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal and Navy Commendation Medal.
After suffering a stroke, Gravely died at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, on October 22, 2004. Admiral Gravely had three children, and was survived by his wife, Alma.
External links
- "Gravely, first black U.S. admiral, dies at 82," CNN, October 24, 2004 (http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/10/24/obit.gravely.ap/index.html)
- Naval Historical Center photos of Admiral Gravely (http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/pers-us/uspers-g/s-gravly.htm)