World War II Honoree

Samuel Lee Gravely, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Richmond, Virginia

Honored By

James O. Travis

Relationship

Veteran

ENLISTED IN THE U.S. NAVAL RESERVE IN SEPTEMBER 1942. TRAINED AS A FIREMAN APPRENTICE. JOINED THE V-12 PROGRAM IN 1943. PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED TO SELECT AND TRAIN HIGHLY QUALIFIED MEN TO BECOME OFFICERS IN THE US NAVY. ON DECEMBER 14, 1944, COMPLETED MIDSHIPMAN TRAINING AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY TO BECOME THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN OFFICER COMMISSIONED FROM THE U.S. NAVY RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING COURSE. AS AN ENSIGN, SERVED ONBOARD THE SUBMARINE CHASER, USS PC-1264, ONE OF ONLY TWO WWII SHIPS WITH A MOSTLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN CREW DURING WWII. RETIRED AS A VICE ADMIRAL, U.S. NAVY AFTER 39 YEARS OF HONORABLE SERVICE. THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO BE SELECTED TO THE RANK OF COMMANDER, CAPTAIN, REAR ADMIRAL AND VICE ADMIRAL IN THE U.S. NAVY.