On April 28, 1971, Samuel L. Gravely Jr. became part of U.S. Navy history when he appeared on the rear admiral promotion list, making him the Navy’s first African American flag officer.
Gravely was born on June 4, 1922, in Richmond, Virginia. He entered the U.S. Naval Reserve during World War II and was commissioned as an ensign in 1944, shortly after the commissioning of the Golden Thirteen, the Navy’s first African American officers.
His career included a series of major firsts. In 1961, Gravely became the first African American officer to command a U.S. Navy ship, USS Theodore E. Chandler. In 1962, he became the first African American officer to command a combat ship, USS Falgout. During the Vietnam War, he commanded USS Taussig, which provided plane guard and gunfire support off the coast of Vietnam in 1966. That command made him the first African American officer to lead a U.S. Navy vessel into combat.
In 1967, Gravely became the Navy’s first African American captain. Four years later, his selection for rear admiral marked another historic step in naval leadership. He later commanded Cruiser-Destroyer Group Two and became commander of the U.S. Third Fleet, based in Hawaii.
Gravely eventually rose to the rank of vice admiral before retiring in 1980 after decades of service. His career is remembered for its documented milestones in command, combat leadership, and senior naval rank.
Samuel L. Gravely Jr. died on October 22, 2004, at age 82. His name remains connected to one of the most important advancement stories in U.S. Navy history.
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