Samuel L. Gravely Jr.

Samuel L. Gravely Jr. became the African American to serve aboard a fighting naval ship as an officer, first African American to command a navy vessel and the African American fleet commander. Being a commander of a fleet requires the preparation and duty of the commander to make sure vessels are ready to be provided if they are needed. As an officer he would oversee the operations of enlisted men and women execute certain military operations. He served among a plethora of ships such as the USS Jouett (CG-29), USS Theodore E. Chandler and the USS Taussig. His naval competence and completion allowed him to receive many outstanding rewards during his discharge such as the bronze star and the legion of merit. Of course during his time, aspirations of succeeding especially within the boundaries of race, posed an obstacle