Lawrence Chambers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lawrence Cleveland Chambers
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Chambers in 2018
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| Nickname(s) | "Larry" |
| Born | June 10, 1929 Bedford, Virginia, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ |
United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1952–1984 |
| Rank | Rear admiral |
| Commands held | USS Midway (CV-41) USS Coral Sea (CV-43) Carrier Strike Group Three |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
| Awards | Bronze Star Vietnam Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal |
| Website | https://www.midway.org/blog/admiral-lawrence-chambers-the-pathfinder |
Lawrence Cleveland "Larry" Chambers was born on June 10, 1929. He made history as the first African American to lead a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier. He was also the first African American to graduate from the Naval Academy and become a high-ranking admiral.
During his time commanding the aircraft carrier USS Midway, Admiral Chambers made a very important decision. He ordered millions of dollars' worth of helicopters to be pushed into the ocean. This made space for a South Vietnamese pilot, Major Buang-Ly, to land his small plane. Major Buang-Ly had his wife and five children with him, and this brave act saved their lives during the Operation Frequent Wind evacuation.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Larry Chambers was born in Bedford, Virginia, in 1929. He was one of five children raised by his mother, Charlotte Chambers. His brother, Andrew, also became a high-ranking general in the U.S. Army. After their father passed away, his mother worked for the War Department to support the family.
Chambers attended Dunbar High School in Washington, D.C. There, he was part of the Junior ROTC program. He graduated as the top student in his class and led the cadet corps. He thought about using a college ROTC program to pay for his studies.
However, Wesley A. Brown, the first African American to graduate from the United States Naval Academy, encouraged him to apply there. Chambers did, and he became the second African American to graduate from the Naval Academy on June 6, 1952.
Chambers had mixed feelings about his time at the Naval Academy. He didn't visit for twenty years after graduating. He later said, "While I had some good memories, I also had some tough memories."
In 1954, after 18 months of flight training, Chambers became a Naval Aviator, meaning he was a trained pilot for the Navy. He flew different types of aircraft during his career.
From 1968 to 1971, Chambers flew combat missions over Vietnam. He flew from the aircraft carriers USS Ranger and USS Oriskany. In 1972, he was promoted to captain. He then took command of the USS White Plains, a ship that carried supplies.
In January 1975, Chambers made history. He became the first African American to command an aircraft carrier, the USS Midway. He served as the ship's commanding officer until December 1976. Later, he was promoted to rear admiral. He finished his career as a leader in the Naval Air Systems Command.
Operation Frequent Wind
In April 1975, Captain Chambers was in command of the USS Midway. He received orders to head quickly to the waters off South Vietnam. This was for Operation Frequent Wind, a mission to evacuate American and South Vietnamese people. At the time, the Midway was in Subic Bay Naval Base and parts of its engine were taken apart for repairs.
Chambers said he didn't get an official order to start the evacuation. But when Nguyễn Cao Kỳ, the Vice President of South Vietnam, landed on the flight deck, Chambers knew the operation had begun. Soon, the carrier's flight deck was full of helicopters bringing refugees from the fall of South Vietnam.
On that same day, a South Vietnamese air force pilot, Major Buang-Ly, took off from Con Son Island. He had his wife and five children in his small, two-seat Cessna O-1 Bird Dog plane. After avoiding enemy fire, Major Buang flew out to sea and saw the Midway.
The Midway crew tried to contact the plane, but the pilot kept circling. A spotter saw that there were at least four people in the small plane. So, the idea of making the pilot land in the water was dropped. It was too risky for the overloaded plane and its passengers.
After three tries, Major Buang dropped a note onto the deck. It said:
Can you move the helicopter to the other side, I can land on your runway, I can fly for one hour more, we have enough time to move. Please rescue me! Major Buang, wife and 5 child.
After talking with Admiral William L. Harris, Captain Chambers gave the order for the plane to land on the Midway. The ship's landing wires were removed. All helicopters that could not be moved safely or quickly were pushed overboard into the sea. An estimated US$10 million worth of UH-1 Huey helicopters were pushed into the South China Sea.
The weather was challenging, with low clouds, light rain, and wind. Chambers ordered the ship to speed up to 25 knots into the wind. Warnings about dangerous air currents behind the ship were sent out in both Vietnamese and English. To make things harder, five more UH-1 helicopters landed, cluttering the deck. Chambers ordered them pushed overboard too.
Captain Chambers later wrote about the landing:
the aircraft cleared the ramp and touched down on center line at the normal touchdown point. Had he been equipped with a tailhook he could have bagged a number 3 wire. He bounced once and came stop abeam of the island, amid a wildly cheering, arms-waving flight deck crew.
Major Buang was taken to the ship's bridge, where Chambers praised his amazing piloting and courage. The Midway crew was so impressed that they started a fund to help Major Buang and his family settle in the United States. The Bird Dog plane that Major Buang landed is now on display at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Florida.
At the time, Chambers had only been in command of the USS Midway for a few weeks. He thought his order might get him into trouble. He called Major Buang-Ly the "Bravest man I have ever met in my life." He also said about his decision: "When a man has the courage to put his family in a plane and make a daring escape like that, you have to have the heart to let him in."
Later Life
After retiring from the Navy, Chambers worked as a director for a company called System Development Corporation. In 2010, he took part in events honoring Operation Frequent Wind.
On April 29, 2015, Chambers visited the USS Midway, which is now a museum ship in San Diego, California. He spoke there to mark the 40th anniversary of Operation Frequent Wind.
Chambers, along with Gordon Brown, helps young people through a special golf event. The "Admiral Chambers and Gordon Brown Sr. Golf Invitational" raises money for the "San Diego Inner City Junior Golf Foundation". This group helps kids from inner cities learn golf and important life skills. The money raised goes towards scholarships for students.
Images for kids
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A South Vietnamese Air Force UH-1H is pushed overboard to make room for Major Buang to land his Cessna O-1.
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Major Buang's O-1 touching down.
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Major Buang's O-1 after landing aboard Midway during Operation Frequent Wind.
See also
- James H. Conyers, the first African American to attend the U.S. Naval Academy
