| Samuel L. Gravely, Jr. | |
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Samuel Gravely, United States Navy photograph circa 1970. |
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| Born | June 4, 1922 Richmond, Virginia |
| Died | October 22, 2004 (aged 82) Bethesda, Maryland |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1942-1980 |
| Rank | Vice Admiral |
| Commands held | USS Theodore E. Chandler (DD-717) USS Taussig (DD-746) USS Jouett (CG-29) Third Fleet Defense Communications Agency |
| Battles/wars | World War II Korean War Vietnam War |
| Awards | Legion of Merit (2) Bronze Star |
Samuel Lee Gravely, Jr. (June 4, 1922 – October 22, 2004) was an African-American Navy pioneer — the first African American in the U.S. Navy to be commissioned an officer, the first to serve aboard a fighting ship as an officer, the first to command a Navy ship, the first fleet commander, and the first to become a flag officer, retiring as a Vice Admiral.[1]
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Samuel Gravely was born on June 4, 1922 in Richmond, Virginia. Gravely spent two years at Virginia Union University, where he was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. Following his time in college, he enlisted in the Naval Reserves on September 15, 1942 and was trained as a Fireman Apprentice.
In 1943, Gravely was told about the V-12 Navy College Training Program by a white officer. It was a new program designed to recruit and train enlisted seamen with partial or completed four-year college degrees to become officers. He sat for the application exam in April, scored very well, and was the first black candidate to be accepted. As part of this training, he attended the University of California in Los Angeles, Pre-Midshipman School in New Jersey, and U.S. Naval Reserve Midshipmen's School at Columbia University.
In March 1944, the "Golden Thirteen" became the first African-American men to be commissioned from the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps. On December 14, 1944, Gravely successfully completed midshipman training as a commissioned officer, thereby becoming the first African-American to graduate from the V-12 program.
As a newly commissioned Ensign, his first assignment was to Camp Robert Smalls, a part of the Great Lakes Naval Training Station set aside for training African-American enlisted men, as the Assistant Battalion Commander for new recruits. Afterwards, he began his seagoing career aboard the USS PC-1264, a submarine chaser that was one of only two World War II ships with a largely African-American crew. He became the first black officer on the ship, as the rest of the command staff were white.
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.
As part of the Navy's response to President Harry S. Truman's Executive Order to desegregate the Armed Services, Gravely and other African-American officers were recalled to active duty in 1949. His initial assignment was as a Navy Recruiter, recruiting African Americans in the Washington, D.C. area, with the understanding that it was only for a year. The outbreak of the Korean War in 1950 forced the Navy to retain any experienced officers currently in service, regardless of race.
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 United States 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 - subsequently CG-29), 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, U.S. 3rd Fleet). He was also among the first African Americans to attend the Naval War College in 1962.
Gravely was assigned tours of duty aboard PC-1264, USS Iowa, USS Toledo and USS Seminole. He served as Executive Officer and Commanding Officer of the Theodore E. Chandler. Additionally, he was the Commanding Officer of the USS Falgout, Taussig, and Jouett. From 1971 to 1973 he served a dual role as the Director of Naval Communications (on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations) and commander of the Naval Telecommunications Command. 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.
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. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Gravely had three adopted children and one biological child, and was survived by his wife, Alma, son William F. Best, son Robert Micheal, David Edward, and daughter Tracey Ernestine.