This 12 months, the theme of BHM is “Inspiring Change”. The theme, designated by the Division of Protection, pays tribute to the generations of Black Individuals which have fought ongoing and historic oppression and inequality so as to create progress and alter inside America.
U.S. Sixth Fleet Present Operations Motion Officer Lt. Cmdr. Isaiah Stokes spoke about “Inspiring Change” throughout a BHM celebration hosted by the U.S. Sixth Fleet’s Multicultural Heritage Committee onboard U.S. Naval Help Exercise (NSA) Naples on Feb. 1, 2023.
“As I mirror on this 12 months’s theme of ‘Inspiring Change’, I take into consideration the various African American civil rights icons, authorities and enterprise leaders, athletes and entertainers celebrated throughout our nation, famous for his or her braveness, diligence, talent, and tenacity,” mentioned Stokes.
“For us within the army, current barrier breakers reminiscent of Secretary of Protection Lloyd Austin, Common Charles Brown, Air Power Chief of Employees, and Common [Michael] Langley, Commander USAFRICOM, and the primary African American four-star basic within the Marine Corps, are inspiring change throughout the Division of Protection. For us within the Navy, names reminiscent of Vice Adm. Samuel Gravely and Adm. Michelle Howard, Grasp Chief [Boatswain’s Mate] Carl Brashear and [Fleet] Grasp Chief April Beldo, would possibly ring a bell,” Stokes added.
The tales and accomplishments of Gravely, Howard, Brashear and Beldo proceed to encourage change within the Navy.
Vice Adm. Samuel L. Gravely Jr.
Gravely started his profession as a seaman apprentice within the Navy Reserve in 1942. In 1944, he was commissioned as an ensign, changing into the primary African American Navy Reserve officer.
Gravely ultimately transitioned from the Navy Reserve to energetic obligation.
Within the Nineteen Sixties, he was designated as appearing commander over USS Theodore E. Chandler (DD-717) changing into the primary African American officer to command a ship. He went on to command the usFalgout (DE-324), USS Taussig (DE-1030) and USS Jouett (DLG-29).
In 1977, whereas serving aboard the usJouett within the Vietnam Warfare, Gravely was promoted to rear admiral.
In 1976, Gravely was promoted to vice admiral and have become the commander of the U.S. third Fleet.
The Richmond, Virgina native was the primary African American commander, captain, rear admiral, and vice admiral within the Navy.
Adm. Michelle Howard
Howard graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1982.
In 1999, she turned the primary Black girl to command a Navy combatant ship, USS Rushmore (LSD 47).
In 2014, she was promoted to the rank of four-star admiral changing into the primary girl to carry the rank. On this position she served as vice chief of naval operations till 2016.
In 2016, Howard assumed command of each U.S. Naval Forces Europe – Naval Forces Africa and Allied Joint Forces Command Naples (NATO) changing into the primary girl four-star admiral to command operational forces.
Grasp Chief Boatswain’s Mate Carl Brashear
Brashear enlisted in 1948, and after preliminary obligation as steward, he was rated as a boatswain’s mate. Whereas serving as a boatswain’s mate, Brashear started coaching in salvage diving.
In 1954, Brashear turned the primary African American to attend and graduate from the U.S. Navy Diving and Salvage faculty main him to grow to be the primary African American Navy diver.
Brashear was onboard the usHoist (ARS-40) in 1966 for the restoration of a nuclear weapon when he was injured in an accident. The damage resulted in surgeons amputating his left leg under the knee.
As an amputee, the medical survey board tried to retire Brashear as unfit for obligation. The decided diver refused to submit. As a substitute, he proved that his talents weren’t diminished after the amputation. After returning to diving, Brashear ultimately turned the primary African American grasp diver within the historical past of the Navy.
Fleet Grasp Chief April Beldo
Like Gravely and Howard, Beldo claimed many firsts.
In 2006, she turned the primary girl command grasp chief (CMC) of Recruit Coaching Command, Nice Lakes, Illinois.
In 2009, she turned the primary Black girl CMC to be assigned to an plane provider (USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70)).
In 2012, Beldo was the primary girl and the primary Black drive grasp chief (FORCM) for Naval Schooling and Coaching Command.
She ended her profession in 2017 after changing into the primary girl to be the Manpower, Personnel, Coaching, and Schooling (MPT&E) fleet grasp chief.
Gravely, Howard, Brashear and Beldo are amongst the generations of Black Individuals which have served and proceed to serve and encourage change within the Navy.
These people, together with many others, knew that they had been and are “the start of issues to come back,” mentioned Ensign Jesse Brown, the primary Black naval aviator.
Throughout BHM, we have fun those that have served so as to encourage change.
NSA Naples is an operational ashore base that allows U.S., allied, and companion nation forces to be the place they’re wanted, when they’re wanted to make sure safety and stability within the European, African, and Central Command areas of accountability.
