Vice Admiral Samuel Lee Gravely Jr., A Sailor's Story
Vice Admiral Samuel Lee Gravely Jr., A Sailor's Story
Samuel Lee Gravely Jr. stands among the most consequential naval leaders of the twentieth century, not only for the barriers he broke, but for the steadiness, professionalism, and excellence with which he broke them.
Samuel Lee Gravely Jr. was born on June 4, 1922, in Richmond, Virginia. He attended Virginia Union University, where his academic promise was evident early, before leaving in 1942 to join the United States Naval Reserve during World War II. At a time when opportunities for African Americans in the Navy were sharply limited, Gravely entered service determined to excel on merit.
After basic training at Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois, he entered the Navy’s V-12 College Training Program at UCLA, followed by Midshipmen’s School at Columbia University. In 1944, he was commissioned as an ensign, one of the very few African American officers in the Navy at the time.
During World War II, Ensign Gravely served aboard USS PC-1264, a patrol craft with a racially integrated crew. He conducted convoy escort and anti-submarine patrols in the Atlantic, gaining firsthand operational experience that would shape the rest of his naval career.
Released from active duty in 1946, Gravely returned to Virginia Union University, completing his bachelor’s degree in history while working as a railway postal clerk. In 1949, he returned to naval service, initially as a recruiter in Washington, D.C., before transferring to USS Iowa as a communications officer. In 1955, he transitioned from the Naval Reserve to the Regular Navy, committing fully to a long-term career.
Gravely’s leadership trajectory accelerated in the 1960s. In 1961, he assumed command of USS Theodore E. Chandler, becoming the first African American to command a U.S. Navy ship. The following year, he took command of USS Falgout. During the Vietnam War, he commanded USS Taussig, making history once again as the first African American to command a U.S. naval vessel in combat operations.
Promoted to captain in 1967, the first African American to attain that rank in the Navy, Gravely continued to break barriers with quiet professionalism rather than spectacle. In 1971, he was promoted to rear admiral, again becoming the first African American in U.S. Navy history to achieve flag rank.
From 1978 to 1980, Vice Admiral Gravely commanded the U.S. Third Fleet, headquartered in Hawaii, marking another historic milestone as the first African American to command a numbered fleet. His tenure reflected not symbolic progress but the culmination of decades of proven leadership, operational competence, and earned trust.
Vice Admiral Samuel Lee Gravely Jr. retired from the Navy in 1980 after nearly four decades of service. In retirement, he enjoyed fishing, traveling with his wife, and breeding pigeons, simple pursuits after an extraordinary career. He died on October 22, 2004, in Bethesda, Maryland.
In recognition of his legacy, the United States Navy named USS Gravely (DDG-107) in his honor, ensuring that his name and the standards he set continue to sail forward.
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About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life
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