Today our walk was dedicated in honor of:
Navy Veteran Carl Maxie Brashear, Age 78 of Portsmouth City, VA.
Died Jul. 25, 2006
Korea War, Vietnam War Veteran
Master Chief Boatswain’s Mate Carl Brashear grew up on a farm in Kentucky as part of a sharecropper family. After being educated in segregated schools, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1948 and underwent recruit training at Great Lakes, IL. After initial duty as a steward, he began handling aircraft for squadron VX-1 at Key West, FL, and was subsequently rated as a boatswain’s mate. He served on the escort carriers Palau (CVE-122) and Tripoli (CVE-64) and began taking training in salvage diving. In 1954, Brashear completed U.S. Navy Diving & Salvage training becoming the first African-American to attend and graduate from the school and the first African-American U.S. Navy diver. Other duties were on USS Opportune (ARS-41); Naval Air Station Quonset Point, where he escorted President Dwight Eisenhower; Ship Repair Facility Guam; Deep-Sea Diving School; the submarine tender Nereus (AS-17), and Fleet Training Center Pearl Harbor. He also had temporary duty with Joint Task Force Eight for nuclear tests in the Pacific. He served on USS Coucal (ASR-8), USS Shakori (ATF-162), and USS Hoist (ARS-40). While on board the latter in 1966 for the recovery of a nuclear weapon off Spain, Brashear was badly injured in an accident. As a result, surgeons amputated his left leg below the knee. He refused to submit to the medical survey board’s attempt to retire him as unfit for duty. After demonstrating that he could still dive and perform his other duties, he was assigned to Harbor Clearance Unit 2, Naval Air Station Norfolk, Experimental Diving Unit, the submarine tender Hunley (AS-31); USS Recovery (ARS-43), Naval Safety Center; and Shore Intermediate Maintenance Activity Norfolk. In 1970, as an amputee, he qualified as the first African-American master diver in the history of the U.S. Navy.
Bio from Naval History and Heritage Command
The 2000 movie “Men of Honor”, with the actor Cuba Gooding Jr. playing the part of BMCM Brashear, tells the story of his challenges to remain a Navy diver after the amputation of his leg below the knee.
The Lewis and Clark Class Dry Cargo/Ammunition Ship USNS Carl Brashear (T-AKE 7) was named in honor of BMCM Brashear. It was placed in service with the Military Sealift Command on March 3, 2009.
Brashear retired from the United States Navy on April 1, 1979, as a master chief petty officer (E-9) and master diver. He then served as a civilian employee for the government at Naval Station Norfolk, Norfolk, Virginia, and retired in 1993 with the grade of GS-11.
We had a great 5.67 Mile walk this morning. We left before sunrise and watched the sun come up as we walked up town to see the big boat anchor at Boats & Harbors. We then stopped in at the War Memorial Park before heading back home. I want to thank my friend Robert for walking with us today and I want to thank everyone who honked, waved, and saluted in helping us honor this hero today. We had 105 honks. It was amazing. Thank You.
Navy Veteran Carl Maxie Brashear will not be forgotten !
