Benjamin Gelman

Blog Post #2

Dr. Miller

23 April 2019

African American Presence in the US Military

San Diego is the eighth largest city in the United States; as it is located on the west coast, it has a strong military presence. Concurrently, given the period, the African American minority mindset was still in effect; that is, the African American culture was still looked at as being lower than whites. However, there was a continued fight for African American equality and among those who were most influential is a man by the name of Lawrence Cleveland Chambers. He fought from the late sixties to the late seventies; he is famous for many reasons, primarily being his success as the first black man to command an aircraft carrier in the US Navy, the USS Midway. During this period, African Americans were typically assigned menial tasks and held a low number of positions in the military;[1]as ranks grew, slowly, Chambers achievement stood out and marked a moment of hopeful change for the black culture; that is, he provided hope for structural change in the navy and allowed doors and opportunities to be opened for future militant African Americans; this is especially beneficial because San Diego has such a strong military presence.  He is important also for who he is as a man both today and during his time in the navy – well respected – as he still does much within the San Diego culture.

Becoming a naval officer was a difficult path for a man to take. In the late 1920s, there were only around thirty-seven African American aviation social blues that had been organized.[2]Soon, with the growing interest of civil rights organizations in the role of African Americans in the military, the two sides combined forces for the better good of the culture. Soon with pressure from these organizations, the US Congress established six Civil Pilot Training programs at universities; Chambers was one among only thirty-five candidates endorsed to take the naval entrance exam — Chambers was the only one to pass.[3]This quickly allowed his entrance into the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. This meant he would attend school for free and meant his family could afford to send both his brothers to college. Although this was not his first choice, but rather MIT, Chambers was raised to put family first and accepted his entrance into the academy to assure his brothers a college education. He was taught to be accommodating and empathetic of the needs of others – a characteristic that lay the groundwork for his rise as a naval officer. Moreover, Chambers was the valedictorian of his class at his high school, the building blocks of an easier path towards the navy, as he already set himself apart from others. In fact, today, Chambers has been asked to be interviewed on a number of different San Diego news outlets, a testament to the respect he has and his accomplishments. One outlet is San Diego’s KPBS. discussed with him both his role in the navy and briefly, some of the hurdles he has crossed to get to where he was.[4]Through the attitude of the interviewer, it is obvious the high regard he places Chambers to be.

In the Naval Academy, particularly Annapolis — the second oldest of US federal service academies — racial relations were generally poor and were a reflection of the overall attitude of the Navy, which stood out among US military branches.[5]One of the biggest challenges for Chambers following this, was generally an African American was unable to discipline and hold charge of white subordinates, affecting the success of the ship.[6]This didn’t stop Chambers as there were players at-bat for him, even in the navy. They helped him follow the right path, so he was able to be successful in the navy. Even from the beginning, he had support and appreciation, playing a pivotal role in his life and becoming the man he was, which undeniably was an effect on his success within the navy and as a black citizen at the time.

Thanks to his academic standing at the academy, Chambers was able to select the first ship that he wanted to serve on; he was advised against this ship and his orders were reversed to another, the USS Columbus. Chambers has even discussed how fortunate he was that many older pilots took interest in him and aided him on his path in the Navy. Eventually, he earned the position of Lieutenant Commander; a historic promotion as it was during a time when a low number of Africa Americans were officers in the US Navy. Climbing ranks, he continued until he finally became commander of the USS midway, the first African American to command an aircraft carrier. This was only one among a number of achievements in the navy, highlighted by a congressional record honoring Chambers.[7]Among them, he was a commander of both a battle group and a second carrier group, he was the Vice Commander Naval Air Systems Command, and he was the commanding officer of an attack squadron. He was quite successful, to say the least.

During his time in the military, Chambers had many achievements, but his work in the community didn’t stop there. Today, he is still speaking and contributing to the community in different ways. He is a well-respected man in the San Diego community and one who is influential for many. One of his contributions to the community is a golf tournament. The Admiral Lawrence Chambers and Gordon Brown Sr. Golf Invitational is held yearly at the Sycuan Golf Resort; the tournament gathers many and benefits the San Diego Junior Golf Academy and foundation. The academy is a nonprofit, that since its beginning, has raised more than $35,000 and has helped aid over 2500 children.[8]The event is in its eighth year and continues to be an influential force thanks to the men that head it.

San Diego has been a hotspot for African American integration into society since the times of segregation and national civil rights movements. Lawrence Cleveland Chambers is especially important because he not only had a great accomplishment for his culture but is still known and influential is his community today. It is men and woman in history like him, who strive for success and are proud and confident of their culture, that creates change and garners wide-spread support. He will always be a well-respected and famous man in San Diego and in the nation.

Bibliography

“Admiral Lawrence Chambers Honored in San Diego-.” Mckinnon Broadcasting. July 05, 2018.

Accessed April 11, 2019. https://www.kusi.com/admiral-lawrence-chambers-honored-in-san-diego/.

“Congressional Record.” Congress.gov. Accessed April 11, 2019.

https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/2018/03/26/extensions-of-remarks-section/article/E372-1.

Hindmon, Jade. “First African-American Commander US Navy Aircraft Carrier Honored In San

Diego.” KPBS Public Media. Accessed April 11, 2019. https://www.kpbs.org/news/2018/jul/03/first-african-american-command-us-navy-aircraft-ca/.

“Rear Admiral Larry Chambers, USN.” Google Books. Accessed April 11, 2019.

https://books.google.com/books/about/Rear_Admiral_Larry_Chambers_USN.html?id=c6w6vgAACAAJ.

Schneller, Robert John. Blue & Gold and Black: Racial Integration of the U.S. Naval Academy. College Station: Texas A & M University Press, 2008.

Writer01. “Voice and Viewpoint.” Voice and Viewpoint. July 12, 2017. Accessed April 11, 2019. https://sdvoice.info/admiral-lawrence-chambers-and-gordon-brown-sr-golf-invitational/

[1]“Rear Admiral Larry Chambers, USN.” Google Books. Accessed April 11, 2019https://books.google.com/books/about/Rear_Admiral_Larry_Chambers_USN.html?id=c6w6vgAACAAJ.

[2]Rear Admiral Larry Chambers, USN.” Google Books. Accessed April 11, 2019. https://books.google.com/books/about/Rear_Admiral_Larry_Chambers_USN.html?id=c6w6vgAACAAJ.

[3]Rear Admiral Larry Chambers, USN.” Google Books. Accessed April 11, 2019. https://books.google.com/books/about/Rear_Admiral_Larry_Chambers_USN.html?id=c6w6vgAACAAJ.

[4]Hindmon, Jade. “First African-American Commander US Navy Aircraft Carrier Honored In San Diego.” KPBS Public Media. Accessed April 11, 2019. https://www.kpbs.org/news/2018/jul/03/first-african-american-command-us-navy-aircraft-ca/.

[5]“Rear Admiral Larry Chambers, USN.” Google Books. Accessed April 11, 2019. https://books.google.com/books/about/Rear_Admiral_Larry_Chambers_USN.html?id=c6w6vgAACAAJ.

[6]Schneller, Robert John. Blue & Gold and Black: Racial Integration of the U.S. Naval Academy. College Station: Texas A & M University Press, 2008.

[7]“Congressional Record.” Congress.gov. Accessed April 11, 2019. https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/2018/03/26/extensions-of-remarks-section/article/E372-1.

[8]Writer01. “Voice and Viewpoint.” Voice and Viewpoint. July 12, 2017. Accessed April 11, 2019. https://sdvoice.info/admiral-lawrence-chambers-and-gordon-brown-sr-golf-invitational/