First black Navy master diver honored with ship named for him
Carl Brashear was a man with unwavering determination to serve as a Navy diver - and to return to the water even after losing a leg.
Thursday in San Diego, the Navy’s top officials gathered to honor Brashear at the christening and launch of a supply ship bearing his name. Also in the crowd was Senior Chief Petty Officer John Allen, a diver from Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base. Several years ago, he spent just a few minutes with Brashear, but it made a big impression.
Brashear joined the Navy in 1948 and became the service’s first black deep sea diver in 1953. Injured in a salvage operation in 1966, Brashear had his left leg amputated. Undeterred, he became the first diver in Navy history to be restored to full active duty as an amputee.
He later became the first black master diver in the Navy.