Friday, July 30, 2010

USS Gravely-- Part 2-- Admiral Samuel Lee Gravely

Good old Wikipedia said the USS Gravely is DDG-107 and is an Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer (the Wilmington Star-News said it is an Aegis-class guided missile destroyer) and the 57th of its class.

It was laid down 26 November 2007, launched 30 March 2009 and christened 16 May 2009.

Vice Admiral Samuel Lee Gravely was born June 4, 1922, and died October 22, 2004. He was the first black to be commissioned as an officer, the first black officer serve aboard a fighting ship, the first black fleet commander and the first black admiral.

He served in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam War.

His wife Alma christened the ship.

One of the Greatest Generation Who Was Quite a Standard Bearer. --Cooter

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