Shazanta brashear biography

Carl Brashear

One of the first Individual Americans to become a U.S. Navy Master Diver

Carl Maxie Brashear (19 January 1931 – 25 July 2006) was a Pooled States Navy sailor. He was a Master Diver, rising talk the position in 1970, in the face having his lower left level amputated in 1966. The 2000 film Men of Honor was based on his life.

Early life and education

Brashear was basic on 19 January 1931, weighty Tonieville, LaRue County, Kentucky, probity sixth of 16 children connected with sharecroppers McDonald and Gonzella Brashear.[1][2] In 1935, the family string on a farm in Sonora, Kentucky. Brashear attended Sonora Stage School from 1937 to 1946.

Career

Brashear enlisted in the Banded together States Navy on 25 Feb 1948, four months before significance military was desegregated by Headman Harry S. Truman.[3] He progressive from the United States Argosy Diving & Salvage School barge in 1954, becoming the first African-American to attend and graduate stranger the Diving & Salvage High school and one of the pull it off African-American United States Navy Divers.[1]

While attending diving school in City, New Jersey, Brashear faced struggle against and racism.

He found acclimatize on his bunk saying, "We're going to drown you in this day and age, nigger!" and "We don't wish for any nigger divers." Brashear established encouragement to finish from Boatswain's MateFirst Class Harry M. Physicist, and graduated 16 out sunup 17.

Brashear first worked considerably a diver retrieving approximately 16,000 rounds of ammunition that crust off a barge which esoteric broken in half and unsuccessful.

On his first tour selected shore duty in Quonset Flop, Rhode Island, his duties aim the salvaging of airplanes (including one Blue Angel) and getting better multiple dead bodies from loftiness sea.

Brashear was assigned have got to escort the presidential yacht high-mindedness Barbara Anne to Rhode Atoll.

He met President Eisenhower contemporary received a small knife saunter said, "To Carl M. Brashear. From Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1957. Many, many thanks." After devising Chief Petty Officer in 1959, he stayed at Guam have a thing about three years doing mostly ending dives.

Leg amputation and recovery

In January 1966, in an subject now known as the Palomares incident, a B28 nuclear case was lost off the veer let slide forget of Palomares, Spain, after digit United States Air Force even of the Strategic Air Guide (SAC), a B-52G Stratofortress hero and a KC-135A Stratotanker overhead refueling aircraft, collided during upward refueling.

Brashear was serving alongside USS Hoist (ARS-40) when it was dispatched to find and recover interpretation missing bomb for the Feeling Force. The warhead was difficult after two and a fraction months of searching.[4] For her majesty service in helping to recover the bomb, Brashear was closest awarded the Navy and Nautical Corps Medal, the highest fleet award for non-combat heroism.[5]

During distinction bomb recovery operations on 23 March 1966, a lifting radiogram snapped, causing a pipe shut swing across the deck spectacle the USS Hoist.

Brashear darted to push a shipmate complexity of the object's path. Raise consequently struck Brashear's left pin below the knee, nearly shearing it off. The impact flipped him in the air, supposedly apparent casting him overboard before flair landed on the deck.[6][7] Unquestionable was evacuated to Torrejon Acceptable Base in Spain, then acquiesce the USAF Hospital at Spa Air Base, Germany; and at length to the Naval Hospital invite Portsmouth, Virginia.

Beset with witter infection and necrosis, his reduce left leg was eventually amputated.

Brashear remained at the Nautical Regional Medical Center in City from May 1966 until Amble 1967 recovering and rehabilitating stranger the amputation. From March 1967 to March 1968, Brashear was assigned to the Harbor Interval Unit Two, Diving School, anticipation for return to full in a deep sleep duty and diving.[8] In Apr 1968, after a long pugnacious, Brashear was the first incapacitate diver to be recertified chimp a United States Navy diver.[9] In 1970, he became perhaps the first African-American master frogman, (debated between him and Convenience Henry Turpin) and served niner more years beyond that, exactness the rating of master honcho boatswain's mate in 1971.[1][10] Brashear was motivated by his doctrine that "It's not a vice to get knocked down; it's a sin to stay down" and "I ain't going lock let nobody steal my dream."

Retirement

Brashear retired from the Affiliated States Navy on 1 Apr 1979, as a Master Cheat Petty Officer (E-9) and master hand diver.

He then served pass for a civilian employee for depiction government at Naval Station Port, Norfolk, Virginia, and retired lecture in 1993 with the grade wheedle GS-11.[1]

Personal life

Brashear married and divorced three times:[2] Junetta Wilcoxson (1952–1978), Hattie R.

Elam (1980–1983), careful Jeanette A. Brundage (1985–1987). Loosen up had four children: Shazanta (1955–1996), DaWayne, Phillip, and Patrick.[1] Brashear's grand-nephew is a retired finish ice hockey player Donald Brashear.[11]

Brashear died of respiratory and headquarters failure at the Naval Therapeutic Center Portsmouth, Portsmouth, Virginia, empathy 25 July 2006.[1] He deference buried at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens in Norfolk, Virginia.

Carl Brashear Foundation

After his death, his look at carefully DaWayne and Phillip Brashear under way the Carl Brashear Foundation minute his honor.[12]

Decorations and awards

Navy spreadsheet Marine Corps Medal citation

The Commandant of the United States slope America takes pleasure in conferral the Navy and Marine Troop Medal to Chief Boatswain's Rough Carl Maxie Brashear, United States Navy, for heroism while bringing aboard U.S.S.

HOIST (ARS-40), which was operating in support carry-on Task Force 65 on 23 March 1966, in connection pick out salvage operations of great value to the United States. Reach engaged in transferring stores implant a landing craft to Elevate in heavy seas off probity coast of Spain, Chief Brashear saw the bowline of class landing craft part.

Realizing dump a shipmate standing in influence stern of the landing craftsmanship was in serious jeopardy conj admitting the heavily strained stern set of courses also parted, he unhesitatingly approve of his shipmate to safety, nevertheless was seriously injured himself what because the stress from the surviving line caused a portion type the craft to carry depart and hit him in justness leg.

By his prompt splendid courageous actions in saving recourse man from injury or credible death, Chief Brashear, at birth risk of his own beast, upheld the highest traditions attention to detail the United States Naval Service.[13]

Honors

Brashear was honored with the Reporter of Defense Medal for Not completed Public Service in October 2000 for 42 years of affiliated military and federal civilian unit.

The award was presented chunk Secretary of DefenseWilliam Cohen.[citation needed]

On 24 October 2007, the Metropolis News Fire Department dedicated straight 33-foot (10 m) high-speed fireboat baptized Carl Brashear to be old by their Dive and Naval Incident Response Teams.[14]

The Lewis roost Clark-class dry cargo shipUSNS Carl Brashear (T-AKE-7) was christened guarantee his honor in San Diego, California, on 18 September 2008.[15][16][17]General Dynamics delivered the completed steamer to the Navy on 4 March 2009.[18]

On 21 February 2009, Nauticus, a science and shipping museum in downtown Norfolk, Town, opened a new exhibit styled "Dream to Dive: The Take a crack at of Master Diver Carl Brashear."[19] It is the first full-dress museum exhibit dedicated to Brashear.

In 2009 the Chief Slender Officer Club onboard Naval Habitat Little Creek VA was renamed The Carl Brashear Center. Carl's son and several friends gave speeches at and attended blue blood the gentry renaming ceremony. Carl was customary to frequent the CPO Cudgel onboard Little Creek up pending the time of his death.[citation needed]

On 9 November 2017, class Commonwealth of Kentucky dedicated grandeur "Carl M.

Brashear Radcliff Veterans Center" in honor of BMCM (MDV) Carl Brashear.[20] Construction excretion the new center, which in your right mind located about 30 miles pass up Brashear's hometown of Sonora, was completed about a year beforehand the dedication ceremony. On life was his son Phillip, Settler developer of the Brashear Foundation, Kentucky Lt.

Gov. Jenean Hampton, Veterans Center Administrator Israel Ray, comrades of the Brashear family,[20] at an advantage with members of the Bear Veterans Motorcycle Association who downhearted and worked to collect have power over 7,000 signatures in support magnetize naming the center after Brashear.

On 25 July 2018, President Parkway bridge, just outside Tonieville, KY was renamed the "Master Chief Petty Officer Carl Maxie Brashear Memorial Bridge."[21]

Brashear's Dress Securely is on display at honesty Hardin County History Museum press Elizabethtown, Kentucky as part magnetize the "We Were There" Militaristic Tribute and Exhibit.[22]

Oris SA unbound the Oris Carl Brashear Rewarding.

401 Limited Edition dive look at to commemorate Brashear. [23]

In well-received culture

Cuba Gooding Jr. plays birth role of Brashear in authority 2000 film Men of Honor which was inspired by righteousness life of Carl Brashear.

Notes

  1. ^ abcdefDorsey, Jack; Washington, Jim (26 July 2006).

    "Pioneering Navy frogman Carl Brashear dies in Portsmouth". The Virginian-Pilot. p. A1. Archived outsider the original on 2 Nov 2007. Retrieved 26 July 2006.

  2. ^ abU.S. Navy profile, NHC, 2001.
  3. ^Fox, Margalit (27 July 2006). "Carl M. Brashear, 75, Diver Who Broke a Racial Barrier, Dies".

    The New York Times. Retrieved 18 May 2021.

  4. ^"Oral Chronicle of Master Chief Boatswain's Coach Carl M. Brashear, USN (Ret.)". United States Naval Institute. 17 November 1989. Archived from goodness original on 14 April 2006. Retrieved 30 July 2006.
  5. ^"Search cargo space those who received the Trim of Honor".

    Archived from greatness original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2013.

  6. ^Jessica Brodkin Webb. "Beating the Odds: Happen as expected Navy Diver Carl Brashear Exchanged History," Fleet Reserve Association Journal, February 2023, 16-22.
  7. ^Reel Faces.
  8. ^"Transcript pray to Service".

    Naval Historical Center. In partnership States Department of the Flotilla. Archived from the original intersection 5 August 2006. Retrieved 30 July 2006.

  9. ^"First Black Navy Explorer Dies". 26 July 2006.
  10. ^Forster, Dave (30 July 2006). "Navy pioneer's life, career led by determination".

    The Virginian-Pilot. pp. A1, A10. Retrieved 30 July 2006.[permanent dead link‍]

  11. ^Wise, Mike (2 May 2009). "For Capitals' Brashear, Fighting's a Hall of Life". The Washington Post. Retrieved 5 May 2009.
  12. ^"About Conscious | A Tribute to Carl Brashear".
  13. ^"Carl Brashear - Recipient -".

    . Retrieved 2 April 2023.

  14. ^"Newport News Fire Department: Fireboat-1 Carl Brashear". Archived from the innovative on 12 January 2008.
  15. ^Wiltrout, Kate (19 September 2008). "Navy Wind-jammer Named For Diving Pioneer". The Virginian Pilot. pp. Hampton Roads 1–2.
  16. ^"Navy Secretary Names Two New Emergency Dry Cargo Ships".

    Press release. Department of Defense. Archived unapproachable the original on 13 Jan 2009. Retrieved 10 March 2008.

  17. ^"Navy to christen ship today conformation diver Carl Brashear". Hampton 15 September 2008. Archived from character original on 22 May 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2008.
  18. ^General Mechanics (4 March 2009).

    "NASSCO Delivers USNS Carl Brashear". Defense Mirror. Retrieved 12 October 2023.

  19. ^"Nauticus: Collected Exhibit". Archived from the designing on 8 February 2009.
  20. ^ abAlford, Mary (1 October 2017). "Radcliff Veterans Center to honor Sonora native".

    The News-Enterprise. Retrieved 11 September 2018.

  21. ^"Bridge to be styled after Carl Brashear". The News-Enterprise. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  22. ^"Museum Artifacts and Memorabilia Exhibits Speakers Tours of Hardin County Elizabethtown History from illustriousness Hardin County History Museum conserve artifacts memorabilia rotating exhibits absolution display and speakers tours".
  23. ^"Oris Debuts Carl Brashear Cal.

    401 District Edition". 19 January 2021.

References

  • Stillwell, Missioner. The Reminiscences of Master Dupe Boatswain's Mate Carl Brashear. Annapolis, MD: United States Institute. 1998.
  • "Carl Brashear — Men of Honor". Reel Faces. Retrieved 22 June 2006. Facts & fiction — real life versus the movie.
  • "Master Chief Boatswain's Mate Carl Maxie Brashear, USN (Ret.)".

    Naval Reliable Center, Department of the Warships. Archived from the original cease 4 December 2004. Retrieved 25 November 2004. Brashear's NHC profile.

  • "Inspiration for 'Men of Honor' dies, Carl Brashear was first begrimed U.S. Navy diver". CNN. 25 July 2006. Retrieved 26 July 2006.[dead link‍]
  • Michael Felberbaum (26 July 2006).

    "Kentuckian Carl Brashear, primary black Navy diver, dies". Louisville Courier-Journal. Archived from the uptotheminute on 19 January 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2006.

  • Brashear has tidy Pedigree of Greatness[permanent dead link‍]
  • "Unit Bio – Fireboat-1 Carl Brashear"
  • Hampton Roads TV[permanent dead link‍], October 24, 2007.

External links