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Saturday 17 March 2012

Black American Navy Soldier

By Adam Smith


The publish-Civil War Jim Crow era legalized segregation in 1863. The Nice Depression started in 1929 signifying a step backward in social progress. The agricultural south supplied few alternatives for meals, shelter, clothes or survival. Black folks battled powerlessness in a generally futile try to reside a good life. When WWII started in 1941, white America discovered jobs to produce the warfare effort however little modified for black folks till the Unites States Military wanted manpower for the Europe an and Pacific campaigns .

All of a sudden in nice demand, black males within the hundreds acquired a uncommon alternative to show themselves and earn an honest wage. Nevertheless, the Navy hierarchy greater than another department of service matched the social order of America. Black males have been forbidden to rise in rank or have command over white men. What the Navy wanted was a alternative for Filipinos to fill the steward’s ranks as a private service corp to Navy officers. Black sailors have been referred to by their civilian friends as “sea going bellhops.” That's what makes this story so unique.

In Uncommon Hero, The John Seagraves Story, John entered the world over three years before the worst time in American history. At age 10 the African-American boy from Georgia quit school to help feed his family. His persistence thrust him into head-of-household responsibilities years ahead of his classmates. He made the best of his situation and seemed to enjoy his freedom, finding work alternating between kitchen prep and self-employment. When he found work in a local theater, he thought his life would be set. That was soon to change.

John’s recruitment into the Navy got here by the hands of FDR’s private good friend and favourite musician, Graham Jackson, who as soon as employed John to chop his grass and run his errands. Jackson provided John the chance to go away the south and see the world. With out hesitation John accepted and was not disappointed. For a lot of, getting into the service trumped a life choosing over the scraps seeking primary requirements and their pride.

John never stopped working. To the dismay of his colleagues he volunteered for food prep at every exotic port of call to resist boredom waiting for his assignment to enter the war. Once assigned to the USS NORTH CAROLINA battleship, known as “The Showboat,” he continued his ongoing fight with the Navy to do more than shine shoes and iron laundry. When he volunteered to assist the officer’s mess cook, he continued his quest to serve in a greater capacity. He requested the opportunity to man a gun. Despite restrictive Navy protocols, a visionary Commander named Stryker gave him a chance.

His request throughout wartime triggered John to interrupt the color barrier on an American war vessel at sea. With an airplane buff and buddy as his trunnion operator, a spotter, and a loader, he and his gun crew made a reputation for themselves with accuracy and teamwork. Their effectiveness in drone apply led to precise struggle experience. John noticed stay motion defending the ship as a gunner â€" very uncommon on a ship filled with white sailors.

Through the heat of heavy engagement, John’s eagle eye trunnion operator good friend recognized a kamikaze aircraft among the many “friendlies” coming back from a mission. The kamikaze aircraft had slipped via their defenses and headed immediately towards them.

Earlier than two Japanese pilots might sacrifice their lives to cripple the USS NORTH CAROLINA battleship, John focused the enemy plane. They waited for permission to fireside as Navy planes crammed the sky ready to land at a close-by plane carrier. Permission granted , he was the primary to fireside hitting the propeller and disabling the aircraft’s maneuverability because it turned virtually utterly towards him, his comrades and his ship. The kamikaze aircraft splashed into the Pacific solely ft away from the ship, its gasoline tanks exploding. Lots of of lives have been saved.

In a defining moment, the officer’s cook turned gunner became a very uncommon hero as the USS NORTH CAROLINA went on to be the most successful and highly decorated ship in the history of the U.S. Navy.

Men of action described The World War II generation. It is easy to forget that “the Greatest Generation ” included black men fighting for their country. Also part of the “silent generation,” America’s black service men lived by a tough moral code to not give up or break down under scrutiny, intense ridicule and open cruelty. Like their white coun terparts, black men made their work ethic do the talking as their silence branded their hard exteriors as tough and pragmatic. They survived Jim Crow laws, The Great Depression, WWII, and unspeakable indignities to provide for their families and change the course of history. In part, this book commemorates commitments and sacrifices subsequent generations should never forget.

Publish warfare America supplied no shortcuts over racial slurs, ethnic biases, cruelty, brutality and lengthy odds to succeed. Few had what it took to create a good life; far fewer reside at present to talk of it. With a 4th grade training, John Seagraves’ outstanding story stays unparalleled for a black sailor within the Navy. By some means, this unknown warfare hero used what the Navy taught him to search out entrepreneurial success in civilian life. John Seagraves survived the warfare, relocated to the north, married and raised a household, and finally returned to the south a profitable entrepreneur.

John Seagraves continues to run his restaurant at eighty five years young. Discover out the secrets and techniques to his success.




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