October 22, 2004 Samuel Lee Gravely, Jr., the first African American in the United States Navy to be commissioned an officer, died. Gravely was born June 4, 1922 in Richmond, Virginia. He enlisted in the Naval Reserves in 1942 and in 1944 successfully completed midshipman training, becoming the first African American commissioned as an officer […]
Tag Archives | Navy
September 23rd in African American History – John William Coltrane
September 23, 1926 John William Coltrane, jazz saxophonist and composer, was born in Hamlet, North Carolina. In 1945, he enlisted in the United States Navy and played in the Navy jazz band. After returning to civilian life, he began freelancing around Philadelphia. From October, 1955 through April, 1957 Coltrane was part of the Miles Davis […]
September 22nd in African American History – Jeremiah Alvesta Wright, Jr.
September 22, 1941 Jeremiah Alvesta Wright, Jr., former pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1961, Wright left college to join the United States Marine Corps. After two years of service, he joined the U. S. Navy where he was trained as a cardiopulmonary technician. In that capacity, he […]
Lewis Howard Latimer – September 4th in African American History
September 4, 1848 Lewis Howard Latimer, inventor and draftsman, was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts. Latimer joined the U. S. Navy at the age of 15 and after receiving an honorable discharge joined a patent law firm as a draftsman at the age of 17. In 1874, Latimer co-patented an improved toilet system for railroad cars […]