Mr. Brashears first marriage, to the former Junetta Wilcoxson, ended in divorce, as did his two later marriages, to Hattie Elam and Jeanette Brundage. At 17, he tried to join the Army in early 1948, but the Army did not want him. The story of Carl Brashear, the first African-American U.S. Navy Diver, and the man who trained him. Master Diver John B. Davis. He found notes on his bunk saying, "We're going to drown you today, nigger!" At the time, the Navy had zero Black divers, but to Brashear, diving seemed every bit the adventure hed been dreaming about. He failed out of the extremely difficult first class course shortly after arriving at Deep Sea . After being transferred to Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Virginia, Mr. Brashear was told that his leg could be repaired enough to allow him to walk with a brace and cane. They are Mrs. Sandra Brashear, wife of Phillip Brashear and Virginia State employee, Division of Child Support Enforcement, Richmond, VA; Mrs. Glenda B. Arrington, a government employee, U. S. Fleet Forces Command, Norfolk, VA and friend of Carl Brashear, and; Mrs. Martha Walker, Curator, Nauticus, The National Maritime Center, Norfolk, VA. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. studio executive Eileen M. Dennis . In 1960, after earning his high school equivalency diploma, he entered the Navys deep-sea diving school. He represented veterans. Carl Bashear was married 3 times: Junetta Wilcoxson (1952-1978), Hattie R. Elam (1980-1983), and Jeanette A. Brundage (1985-1987). In 1970, Brashear earned the master diver credential the highest level for Navy divers. He was also the first person to be returned to full service as a Navy diver after losing a limb. He wrote to the Navy diving school, asking for admittance. Next, read about Henry Johnson, a Black World War I hero forgotten for years, and then learn about other Black heroes in the military. The warhead was found after two and a half months of searching. Brashear survived, and went on to become the first amputee diver in the Navy, as well as its first Black master diver. After being educated in segregated schools, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1948 and underwent recruit training at Great Lakes, IL. 17-May-1955, d. 13-Jul-1996, heart attack) "June",as she was affectionately called, was an attractive, spirited, compassionate, and thoughtful young lady who could light up any room with her piercing high pitched voice and bright dimpled smile. Also learn how He earned most of Carl Brashear networth? In 1952, Carl married Junetta Wilcoxson, born on June 10th, 1933 to Walton and Cora Wilcoxson. Just a few years before his death, Brashear reflected on his career, saying, I was able to turn tragedy into triumph, even with the dirt I had on me the dirt of racism, the dirt of prejudice, the dirt of discrimination, the dirt of doubt, the dirt of disbelief. Brashear attended Sonora Grade School from 1937 to 1946. At his passing in July 2006, Carl still did not like being in the spotlight. More than 800 people attended to pay their final respects. Sometimes my project would be sabotaged, he recalled. Brashear nevertheless finishes the assembly and graduates from diving school, earning the quiet and suppressed admiration of Sunday and his fellow divers. Painting by Christine M. Cancelli, image courtesy of the Navy Art Collection. He is known for his work on Men of Honor (2000), Master Chief: A Tribute to Carl Brashear (2001) and HBO First Look (1992). As a result, surgeons amputated his left leg below the knee. It is added that he does not retire from the Navy for another nine years. Brashear remained at the Naval Regional Medical Center in Portsmouth from May 1966 until March 1967 recovering and rehabilitating from the amputation. Despite a lifetime of hard-won achievement, Mr. Brashear spoke about Men of Honor with something approaching awe. Carl Brashear died of heart and respiratory failure at the Naval Medical Center on July 25, 2006 at the age of 75. Since his historic achievement, at least four other African American men have earned the elite designation. Supposedly Junetta's name was shortened to Jo (like a nickname).. But Brashear thrived. Meanwhile, the Navy sent Carl Brashear discharge papers. More than 800 people attended to pay their final respects. I cant be tied up that long. He did not want any special treatment when he went through training or was tested to become the most elite of Navy divers. [7] In April 1968, after a long struggle, Brashear was the first amputee diver to be recertified as a United States Navy diver. Carl Brashear Interview Footage, Audio, and Photo Montage: For the final test, in a scene dramatically reproduced in the film, Mr. Brashear was required to walk 12 steps unaided, wearing nearly 300 pounds of equipment. But he had bigger dreams. Brother: Edward Brashear Wife: Junetta Wilcoxson Brashear (m. 1952, div. Naval Undersea Museum do not constitute an endorsement by the United States Department of Defense or the United States Department of the Navy of non-US government sites, information, products or services contained therein. He was born in Tonneyville, Kentucky, on January 19, 1931, to a sharecropper family and raised in Sonora, Kentucky. Brashear first worked as a diver retrieving approximately 16,000 rounds of ammunition that fell off a barge which had broken in half and sunk. Yes. Sometimes by his side and sometimes his adversary there was one man who Carl Brashear really admired. He finds that Master Chief Sunday is the leading chief petty officer and head instructor, who is under orders from the school's eccentric, bigoted commanding officer to ensure that Brashear fails. At that point a dream was born: Carl would become a US Navy diver. The helmets used were actually commercial helmets (which have larger glass windows or "lights") on Navy breast plates, allowing greater visibility of the actors. While on board the latter in 1966 for the recovery of a nuclear weapon off Spain, Brashear was badly injured in an accident. Carl Brashear. As the first Black man to graduate from the Navys diving school and the first Black first-class diver, Carl Brashear had already broken many barriers. Brashear was serving aboard USSHoist(ARS-40) when it was dispatched to find and recover the missing bomb for the Air Force. They succeed in getting Brashear reinstated. He was the first Navy diver to return to full active duty as an amputee. [citation needed], On October 24, 2007, the Newport News Fire Department dedicated a 33-foot (10m) high-speed fireboat named Carl Brashear to be used by their Dive and Marine Incident Response Teams. A doctor pronounced Brashear dead due to blood loss, only to change his mind soon after. After his death, his sons DaWayne and Phillip Brashear started the Carl Brashear Foundation in his honor. At 75 years old, Carl Brashear height Junetta was the only child born to the late Walton and Cora Wilcoxson, in Magnolia Kentucky on June 10th 1933. From this union four (4) children were born; Shazanta, DaWayne, Phillip, and Patrick. In 1966, Mr. Brashear was aboard the Navy salvage ship Hoist off the coast of Spain, helping to recover a hydrogen bomb that had plunged into the Mediterranean after the plane carrying it crashed. Nineteen days after retiring, he was offered a job by a former boss, a retired Navy captain. In 2000, the movie Men of Honor told the real-life story of Carl Brashear, played by Cuba Gooding Jr. Washington retired in 2003 with 30 years of service. Carl Maxie Brashear (January 19, 1931 - July 25, 2006) was a United States Navy sailor. Carl just saw it as another obstacle and challenge. Sometimes I would come back from a run, and my artificial leg would have a puddle of blood from my stump, Brashear admitted, per the Los Angeles Times. Carl Brashear Interview Footage, Audio, and Photo Montage: [1][2] In 1935, the family settled on a farm in Sonora, Kentucky. During the bomb recovery operations on March 23, 1966, a line used for towing broke loose, causing a pipe to strike Brashear's left leg below the knee, nearly shearing it off. She promptly set her course toward becoming a licensed beautician where she would be able to parlay her love for beauty and people into a respectable career. Carl M. Brashear, a son of Kentucky sharecroppers who in 1970 became the United States Navys first black master diver, and whose story was told in the 2000 movie Men of Honor, died Tuesday in Portsmouth, Va. Carl Brashear . If [my father] hadnt passed down the ethic of never giving up, I wouldnt be where I am today. In 1954, Brashear completed U.S. Navy Diving & Salvage training becoming the first African-American to attend and graduate from the school and the first African-American U.S. Navy diver. Other duties wereon USS Opportune (ARS-41); Naval Air Station Quonset Point, where he escorted President Dwight Eisenhower; Ship Repair Facility Guam; Deep-Sea Diving School; the submarine tender Nereus (AS-17), and Fleet Training Center Pearl Harbor. As he supervised from the ship, a line broke, sending a heavy steel pipe hurtling toward the men on deck. Disaster struck on March 23, 1966. The story of Carl Brashear, the first African-American U.S. Navy Diver, and the man who trained him. 401 Limited Edition", "Master Chief Boatswain's Mate Carl Maxie Brashear, USN (Ret. [1] Brashear's grand-nephew is a retired professional ice hockey player Donald Brashear.[10]. "[19], Brashear's Dress Uniform is on display at the Hardin County History Museum in Elizabethtown, Kentucky as part of the "We Were There" Military Tribute and Exhibit. He refused to submit to the medical survey boards attempt to retire him as unfit for duty. He is from USA. After initial duty as a steward, he began handling aircraft for squadron VX-1 at Key West, FL, and was subsequently rated as a boatswain's mate. Brashears response? AKA Carl Maxie Brashear. Here was the adventure he had sought for so long. Brashear served in the Navy until 1979, and then worked in a civilian role at Naval Station Norfolk until he retired in 1993. Photograph taken from the Memorial Service Pamphlet for Master Chief Brashear held at the Chapel at Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek, Virginia, on 29 July 2006. He was fitted with a prosthesis, and the Navy sent him his discharge papers. In addition to scholarly publications with top presses, she has written for Atlas Obscura and Ranker. 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