Vice Admiral Samuel Lee Gravely Jr., - The First of Many By. Taylor Smith

Pacific Historic Parks would like to showcase Vice Admiral Samuel Gravely Jr. During his 38-year tenure in the United States Navy Vice Admiral Gravely earned the title of the “first African American” for an array of achievements and titles. Often, Gravely shied away from this distinction. In an interview conducted by the Visionary Project in 2002, Gravely described himself as a “mild mannered, meek but strong man” who aspired to “do the best job [he] knew how.” 

Born in 1922 in Richmond Virginia, Gravely grew up in a “strict but fair” household. He would attend the Virginia Union University for three years before enlisting in the United States Naval Reserves in 1942.  Having only opened enlistments to African Americans in 1937, by the early 1940s there were few opportunities extended to black sailors with virtually no chance of promotion. Gravely began his naval career as a fireman apprentice. With the hopes of one day becoming a motor machinist he pursued any opportunity presented to him. It was during this time that he enrolled in Naval College.

While enrolled in Naval College hisCO questioned why he had not signed up for the V-12 Commissioning Program test. The V-12 Commissioning Program was “designed to select and train highly qualified men for commissioning as officers in the Navy.”  Speaking to the Visionary Project, Vice Admiral Gravely recalled his reticence to take the exam. “I said Sir, do you realize there are no black officers in the Navy today? And I personally don’t think there will be any anytime soon.” Gravely’sCO ordered him to take the exam. He would be the first African American to pass it. 

With no black colleges offering the V-12 Commissioning Program, Gravely enrolled in the University of Southern California. After two days of living in an all-white dorm he was removed from campus and sent to UCLA where a room in the basement was allocated for him. Gravely did not allow himself to be intimidated and dissuaded. After completing a semester at UCLA he transferred to the Midshipmen’s School at Columbia University. Of the 1,000 men in his 1944 graduating class, Gravely was the only black student. He would be the first African American commissioned as officer from the Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC). When asked how he was able to endure such an experience Gravely responded, “If [white students] could do it I could do it. No excuses…I don’t think it was self-control or anything else, it was a will to do it, and I didn’t plan to fail.” (Visionary Project)  

On July 26th, 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed executive order 9981 desegregating the United States military. Following his time aboard a segregated submarine chaserUSS PC-1264 and a short stint as a Naval recruiter Gravely was ready to return to sea duty. He was assigned to the battleshipUSS Iowa as a communications officer. While Gravely was “very happy” with the assignment, his white colleagues were briefed about a black officer joining their ranks. The white officers were directed to treat Gravely with respect. A volunteer was requested to room with Gravely in the standard 2-man bunk issued to officers. Only one man raised his hand. Gravely was undeterred by his shipmate’s reluctance. “Maybe it might had been so [when I first boarded] but it wasn’t so by the time I’d been aboard there for 6 months, and they’d seen that I did my job just like they did their jobs.”    

This would not be the first instance of racial discrimination and abuse at the hands of Gravely’s colleagues and superiors. While Gravely “never thought” of the racial tensions resulting from the desegregation of the US Navy he was invariably affected by them. “Every once and awhile I’d hear a derogatory remark which would upset me for about 5 minutes, and I’d forget about that one and go on to the next thing. I didn’t have any problems.” Early in his career Gravely cited being barred from entering the Officer’s Club, being taunted and jeered with his very presence at table resulting in arguments and near fights from white sailors and marines. “I had to convince my fellow officers that I deserved to sit, eat, and work alongside them,” he said. Inevitably Gravely would persevere and work harder to assert his place amongst them. This preparedness and unwillingness to be dissuaded or intimated would ultimately pay off.  

Regardless of the racial turmoil Gravely never allowed this to dominate his personal narrative and ambitions surrounding his Naval career. “My aspirations were to command, not to be second command, or third in command, but to command. And I wanted to go to a destroyer.” Having never served on a destroyer, Gravely’s goals of commanding one would be difficult. However, like so many instances in his career he did not allow this detail to stop him. Gravely studied hard and enrolled in classes to help facilitate his dream. He joined a destroyer squadron, taking on additional responsibilities and roles. He visited destroyers and learned the inspections protocol of each ship in his command to understand them from “the bottom to the top”. “There were eight ships in that squadron, and I learned every one of them.” In 1960 Gravely would be assigned to the destroyer theUSS Theodore E. Chandler as the first African American Executive Officer. A year later Gravely would achieve his goal of taking command of the ship.

Gravely cited his 1961 promotion as Commanding Officer of theUSS Theodore E. Chandler felt “like going to heaven.” As the first African American to command a ship in the US Navy the media began to show an interest in him that would last the duration of his naval career. Often Gravely was “frustrated” and uncomfortable by the media attention surrounding his promotions and success.  He shied away from the framing of his accomplishment as being “the first African American” Officer, Commander, and Commander to lead a ship during combat. Instead, he cited his ambition and determination that led to his accomplishments. Captain Odom, Commanding Officer of theUSS Samuel Gravely Jr, mirrors this sentiment, “His primary goal was to be the best at what he did. It wasn’t about race it was being the best naval officer.” Regardless of civilian attention surrounding his race, Gravely took pride in his achievements especially as a role model for African American Naval officers and aspiring officers. As his wife Alma Gravely reflects, “He was a role model by being himself...That is what he did. He kept going and going and going.”

Samuel Gravely Jr.’s service would span 38 years, 3 Wars, and 7 seas. He would be the first African American to command a Navy Ship (USS Theodore E. Chandler (DD 717)), Warship (USS Falgout (DE-324), Warship under combat conditions (USS Taussig (DD-746)), a Navy Major Command Warship (USS Jouett (CG29)) and a Numbered Fleet (Third Fleet). He was awarded the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal and Navy Commendation Medal. He was also awarded the World War II Victory Medal and Korean Service Medal with two service stars, the United Nations Korea Medal and Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation. In 2004 Samuel Gravely passed away at the age of 82. He was laid to rest at Arlington Cemetery. In 2008 the United States Navy would commission a ship in Gravely’s honor. True to Gravely’s early aspirations theUSS Gravely is a destroyer (DDG-107). Discussing her late husband, Alma Gravely smiles to herself, “I’m happy the Navy decided to build a destroyer for him because I don’t know if he’d be too pleased with any other ship bigger or smaller. He loved destroyers. He loved to go to sea with them.”  

Vice Admiral Samuel Gravely Jr. was the first to achieve many accolades and accomplishments once thought impossible for an African American Naval sailor. Throughout his career he was faced with countless instances of prejudice, discrimination, and racism. Through it all he remained humble and steadfast in his determination to excel and achieve his aspirations. He was not bitter or hardened by these experiences and never allowed them to blight his sentiments for the Navy. His perseverance would inevitably open more opportunities for inclusion, diversity, and representation. He would act as an inspirational “trailblazer” for countless African American naval recruits and aspiring officers.“They always say we’re standing on his shoulders. All of the time. All of the time,” Alma Gravely said. “He was very persistent.”