Samuel Lee Gravely Jr.

Samuel Lee Gravely Jr. was a highly decorated African American Naval officer from 1944–1980 who received the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Navy Commendation Medal. He was also the first African American to hold numerous high-ranking positions in the United States Navy. He was the first Black naval officer assigned to a combat ship, the first to command a navy ship, the first line captain, the first rear admiral, the first fleet commander, and the first to reach the rank of vice admiral. It was through his excellent seamanship and perseverance that he was able to mount the great racial obstacles in his way and reach these great heights within the navy, which made him a role model to other minority groups trying to achieve fairness in a racially unequal country.