Samuel L. Gravely Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Samuel Lee Gravely Jr.
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| Born | June 4, 1922 Richmond, Virginia, US |
| Died | October 22, 2004 (aged 82) Bethesda, Maryland, US |
| Place of burial | |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ |
 United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1942–1980 |
| Rank | Vice Admiral |
| Commands held | USS Theodore E. Chandler (DD-717) USS Falgout (DE-324) USS Taussig (DD-746) USS Jouett (CG-29) Cruiser-Destroyer Group Two 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. (born June 4, 1922 – died October 22, 2004) was a very important officer in the United States Navy. He made history many times. He was the first African American to serve as an officer on a fighting ship. He was also the first to command a Navy ship. Later, he became the first African American to lead an entire fleet of ships. Finally, he was the first to become a high-ranking officer called a flag officer. He retired from the Navy as a Vice Admiral.
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Samuel Gravely Jr. was born on June 4, 1922, in Richmond, Virginia. He was the oldest of five children. His father, Samuel L. Gravely Sr., worked for the postal service.
Young Samuel went to Virginia Union University. However, he left college early in 1942 to join the Naval Reserve. He had tried to join the U.S. Army in 1940 but was not allowed to.
After basic training, Gravely joined a special Navy program at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He then went to Midshipmen's School at Columbia University. On November 14, 1944, he became an ensign, which is a junior officer rank. This was just eight months after the "Golden Thirteen" became the very first African-American officers in the U.S. Navy.
Serving in World War II and the Korean War
Gravely started his sea career on a submarine chaser called USS PC-1264. He was the only Black officer on board. This ship, along with USS Mason (DE-529), had mostly Black enlisted sailors. Before June 1, 1942, African Americans could only join the Navy as messmen, who served food. These two ships helped test if African Americans could do other important Navy jobs. During World War II, PC-1264 patrolled the U.S. east coast and the Caribbean.
In 1946, Gravely left active duty but stayed in the Naval Reserve. He married Alma Bernice Clark, a schoolteacher, that same year. They had three children: Robert, David, and Tracey. He went back to Richmond and finished his history degree at Virginia Union University in 1948. After that, he worked as a railway postal clerk.
Gravely was called back to active duty in 1949. He worked as a recruiter in Washington, D.C.. During the Korean War, he had both shore and sea jobs. He served on the USS Iowa as a communications officer. In 1955, he joined the regular Navy and started to focus on naval communications.
Vietnam War and Later Career Milestones
Many of Gravely's later achievements were "firsts" for African Americans in the Navy. From February to October 1961, he became the first African-American officer to command a U.S. Navy ship, the USS Theodore E. Chandler (DD-717). (A civilian named Robert Smalls had briefly commanded a Navy ship during the American Civil War, but he was not a Navy officer). Gravely also commanded the radar picket destroyer escort USS Falgout (DE-324) from 1962 to 1963.
During the Vietnam War, he commanded the destroyer USS Taussig (DD-746) in 1966. His ship helped protect planes and provided gunfire support off the coast of Vietnam. This made him the first African American to lead a ship into combat. In 1967, he became the first African American to reach the rank of captain. Then, in 1971, he was the first to become a rear admiral.
When he became a rear admiral, he was commanding the guided missile frigate USS Jouett (DLG-29). Gravely then commanded Cruiser-Destroyer Group 2. Later, he was named the Director of Naval Communications. From 1976 to 1978, he commanded the Third Fleet in Hawaii. After that, he moved to Virginia to lead the Defense Communications Agency until he retired in 1980.
Vice Admiral Gravely received many military awards. These include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal.
Later Years and Lasting Legacy
After retiring from the military, Gravely lived in Haymarket, Virginia. He worked as a consultant. An elementary school in Haymarket was named the Samuel L. Gravely Jr. Elementary School in his honor.
Gravely passed away on October 22, 2004, at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, after having a stroke. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
In Richmond, the street where Gravely grew up was renamed "Admiral Gravely Boulevard" in 1977. The destroyer USS Gravely (DDG-107), which joined the Navy in 2010, was also named in his honor.
Every year, Vice Admiral Gravely is honored in San Pedro, California, aboard the Battleship Iowa. This event, called the Gravely Celebration Experience, celebrates leaders who show his strong leadership and service. There is also an essay contest for high school students. It asks them to explore Vice Admiral Gravely's motto: “Education, Motivation, Perseverance.”
See also
- List of African-American firsts
- Military history of African Americans
