ABC7 Salutes: Paying tribute to Navy admiral who broke barriers, earned several firsts during his long, honored career
The Navy s first Black admiral was honored at a ceremony during a Black History Month celebration in San Pedro at the USS Iowa, a retired battleship he served on during the Korean War.
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SAN PEDRO, Calif. (KABC) Samuel L. Gravely Jr. was the first African American in the U-S Navy to become an admiral, and the first to command a fleet: Accomplishments he earned during a time of great racial division within the armed services.
Despite a mountain of pitfalls dating back to WWII, Admiral Gravely remained steadfast in his zest to rise through the ranks of the U.S. Navy eventually earning the distinction of admiral in 1976.