Awesome news is circulating throughout the Navy this week.
One of the Military Sealift Command ships of the Lewis and Clark-class Auxillary Dry Cargo vessels has been selected to carry the name of Carl Brashear – the first African-American in history to become a master diver and first amputee to be restored to active duty.
Thanks to Hollywood and its box-office obsession with seemingly bigger-than-life heroes in the mid 90’s through the turn of the century, everybody knows what a great man Carl Brashear was.
When the heavenly watch was set at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth in July, 2006, he could have easily slipped away into that long goodnight without anybody, beyond his own family and circle of friends standing close and intensely grieving the loss.
Because of Men of Honor, the entire nation was able to grieve the passing of an amazingly courgeous man.
Men of Honor is a film based on Brashear’s life story as a black man determined to excel in the Navy as a diver, despite barriers of harsh racism.According to Norfolk’s 12News at WVEC.com:
Brashear joined the Navy in 1948. In addition to being the first African-American deep-sea diver, he was also the first African-American mastor diver and first Navy diver to be restored to full active duty as an amputee.
The Brashear will be designated USNS and will be manned primarily by civil service and civilian mariners working for the U.S. Navy.
I took my sons to see that movie when it came out in November, 2000. They were in awe for the entire 128 minutes of playing time.
What motivates kids like mine to sit captivated in their seats? For adult movie patrons in a Navy-saturated community as saturated as Norfolk is to be just as captivated while watching this man’s story? Was it simply that a black sailor 50-some years ago faced an extreme, personal struggle involving military bigotry and racism?
No. It’s something that runs deeper.
Much, much deeper.
One of my sons is now serving in the Navy, stationed aboard the USS Nassau as it currently steams toward the Persian Gulf. Movies like Men of Honor had a lot to do with his decision to join the Armed Forces.
We couldn’t name one of our ships for a more important American in modern history. His memory is deserving of every accolade and honor imaginable.
March 6th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Debi,
good story I am glad to hear that at least someone is honoring this great man. Would of been better if the U.S. Navy did it then MSC, but such is life. It is a shame that the government decided to dishonor the Navies FIRST Black Master Diver this way. Such a shame that it has come to this. Sure not the same Navy I joined way back when.