The White Falcon - 31.01.1992, Side 2

Black History Month
Setting a precedence yesterday-today-tommorow
WASHINGTON (NES).-.Even though America
may not have been their original homeland, blacks
have defended America with their lives for more than
100 years. Not only have they put their lives on the
line, but many have done so with distinction.
The first black enlisted man, according to the
Naval Historical Center in Washington, D.C., was a
sail maker listed on the Navy muster rolls in 1856.
The only other black person on record earlier than
that was a marine named John Martin. According to
Naval Historical Center’s records, Martin enlisted
for service in the 1776 Continental Brig Reprisal.
In January 1944, 12 ensigns and one warrant
officer became the Navy’s first black officers. They
quickly became known as the Golden Thirteen. They
were Ensigns: George C. Cooper, Graham E. Martin,
Jesse W. Arbor, John W. Reagan, Reginald E. Good-
win, Dennis D. Nelson, Phillip G. Barnes, Samuel E.
Bames, Dalton L. Baugh, James E. Hair, Frank E.
Sublett, William S. White and Warrant Officer Charles
B. Lear.
ENS Jesse L. Brown became another first as the
Navy’s first black naval aviator. A native of Hat-
tiesburg, Miss., Brown was a graduate of Ohio State
University, Columbus, Ohio, and qualified as a naval
aviator October 1948. When the Korean War broke
out, he entered combat as a pilot with the 32nd
Fighter Squadron and quickly rose to section leader.
He earned the Air Medal for his daring attacks on
enemy transportation facilities and military installa-
tions at Wonsun, Songjin and Sinanju. He was dis-
patched Dec. 4, 1950, to fly close air support for the
Marines fighting near Chosin Rservoir. As he re-
peatedly returned to strafe enemy positions, his low-
flying craft was hit by hostile fire and crashed. He
was the first black naval officer killed in action
during the Korean War and was posthumously
awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his ex-
ceptional courage, airmanship and devotion to duty.
In 1973, USS Jesse L. Brown (FF 1089), a Navy
destroyer escort, was named after Brown, the first
time a Navy ship was named for a black man.
Another first for the black Navy community was
when ADM Samuel L. Gravely Jr., was selected as
the first black Navy admiral.
Some highlights of his distinguished career in-
clude serving on the Chief of Naval Operations
(CNO) staff as coordinator, Navy Satellite Commu-
nications Program in the Office of the CNO (Com-
munications and Cryptology) with additional duty in
the Navy Space Program Division.
He was selected as commanding officer of USS
Jouett (DLG 29), a guided missile frigate homeported
in San Diego. At the end of his tour as captain of the
ship, he was awarded two stars promoting him to rear
admiral.
After serving as Commander, Naval Communica-
tions Command and Director, Naval Communica-
tions Division under the CNO and Commander
Cruiser-Destroyer Group 2, he assumed duties as
commandant of the 11th Naval District until he
donned his third star. He then assumed command of
the 3rd Fleet, Sept. 10, 1976. Two years later he
became Director of the Defense Communications
Agency until his retirement Aug. 1, 1980.
As ENS Frank Sublett Jr., one of the Golden
Thirteen said, ‘This was a new experience, to have
all these blacks in positions other than mess cooks.
The Navy was taking a risk. There was pressure on
all sides, I’m sure. But we were supposed to be
intelligent people, and I don’t think they would’ve
put themselves under the boom if they hadn’t ex-
pected a good showing from us. We didn’t disap-
point the people who gave us those responsibilities.”
What is the BEQ Advisory Committee?
By MM1 Michael P. Proctor
On board Naval Air Station, Keflavik (NAS), the
Bachelor Enlisted Quarters (BEQ) Advisory Com-
mittee is the link between BEQ residents and the
Commanding Officer. The committee is made up of
enlisted personnel of all paygrades from both the
Navy and the Air Force. At committee meetings,
concerns and issues involving the BEQs are aired and
efforts are made to resolve problems.
Although the committee meets quarterly, issues
that the committee presents are worked on and re-
solved throughout the year. For example, vacuum
cleaners were not readily available for residents to
use in cleaning their rooms. Most BEQs had only one
vacuum for the entire building. The committee
raised this issue at a recent meeting and the result was
the purchase of more vacuum cleaners. Now each
floor in every BEQ has one.
We cannot be effective without participation of
BEQ residents. Each command on the NATO Base
has a representative who is tasked with attending the
meetings and presenting concerns. Without inputs
from members of their department or command,
these individuals will not be able to properly func-
tion within the committee. Inputs are not only
paramount for the success of the committee, but also
for the quality of life improvements that all BEQ
residents desire.
The NAS Commanding Officer, as well as the
billeting staff are highly receptive to the inputs rorm
the committee. The only way to make these impor-
tant issues known is to communicate with your
committee representative. Let them know what you
are thinking so that the BEQ Advisory Committee
can work with the command and the billeting staff
in improving the quality of life for every BEQ
resident.
If, for some reason, you do not get the results you
want from your representative, I encourage you to
contact your Command Master Chief or your Senior
Enlisted Advisor. If all fails, please feel free to
contact me at ext. 4301 DWH or drop me a note
through the guard mail at Box 16.
HITE
FALCON
Commander,
Iceland Defense Force
RADM Thomas F. Hall
Public Affairs Officer
LT Joseph L. Quimby
Deputy PAO
Fridthdr Kr. Eydal
Chief Petty Officer In Charge
JOC Terry J. Bamthouse
Draftsman
DM2 (SW) John Mcmillian
Editor
J02 Susan Hallden
Journalist
J03 Lisa-Diane Joseph
Journalist
J03 Colleen C. Casper
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