Samuel L Gravely Jr News

1801 - Commodore Richard Dale's squadron arrives at Gibraltar for the protection of American interests and to strike at the Barbary Pirates in the Mediterranean. Squadron ships were USS President, USS Philadelphia, USS Essex, and USS Enterprise. 1850 - The Naval School at Annapolis, Md., is renamed the U.S. Naval Academy and adopts a four-year course of study. Also on this date, Commander Cornelius K. Stribling becomes the first Superintendent of the Naval Academy and serves until the fall of 1853.

Today in U.S. 1800 - First convoy duty; USS Essex escorts convoy of merchant ships from East Indies to U.S. 1801 - U.S. 1911 - Trial of first Navy aircraft, Curtiss A-1. The designer, Glenn Curtiss, makes first flight in Navy's first aircraft, A-1, at Lake Keuka, NY, then prepares LT Theodore G. Ellyson, the first naval aviator, for his two solo flights in A-1. 1916 - Establishment of informal school for officers assigned to submarines at New London, Conn. 1933 - USS Constitution commences tour of principal U.S. seaports.

Today in U.S. Naval History - January 31 1944 - American amphibious landing on Kwajalein, Marshall Islands 1961 - Lieutenant Commander Samuel Lee Gravely, Jr. becomes first African-American to command a combat ship, USS Falgout 1981 - Era of Enlisted Naval Aviators ends when last pilot retired For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.

Today in U.S. 1800 - First convoy duty; USS Essex escorts convoy of merchant ships from East Indies to U.S. 1801 - U.S. 1911 - Trial of first Navy aircraft, Curtiss A-1. The designer, Glenn Curtiss, makes first flight in Navy's first aircraft, A-1, at Lake Keuka, NY, then prepares LT Theodore G. Ellyson, the first naval aviator, for his two solo flights in A-1. 1933 - USS Constitution commences tour of principal U.S. seaports. 1951 - Responsibility for the Government of Trust Territories transferred from Navy to Department of Interior.

From the Navy News Service:   1944 - A U.S. amphibious landing takes place on Kwajalein, Marshall Islands. 1961 - Lt. Cmdr. Samuel Lee Gravely Jr. becomes the first African-American to command a combat ship, USS Falgout (DER 324). 1981 - The era of enlisted naval aviators ends when the last pilot retires.   For more news from the Naval Historical Center, visit their Navy Newsstand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/navhist.

1944 - American amphibious landing on Kwajalein, Marshall Islands 1961 - Lieutenant Commander Samuel Lee Gravely, Jr. becomes first African-American to command a combat ship, USS Falgout 1981 - Era of Enlisted Naval Aviators ends when last pilot retired (Source: Navy News Service)

The Navy will christen the newest Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer, Gravely, May 16 during a ceremony at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Miss. The new destroyer honors the late Vice Adm. Samuel L. Gravely Jr. He was born in Richmond, Va., June 4, 1922. After attending Virginia Union University, he enlisted in the Naval Reserve in September 1942. In 1943 he participated in a Navy program (V-12) designed to select and train highly qualified men for commissioning as officers in the Navy. On Dec.

From the Navy News Service 1944 - A U.S. amphibious landing takes place on Kwajalein, Marshall Islands. 1961 - Lt. Cmdr. Samuel Lee Gravely Jr. becomes the first African-American to command a combat ship, USS Falgout (DER 324). 1981 - The era of enlisted naval aviators ends when the last pilot retires.

1797 - Naval Regulations passed by Congress. 1800 - First convoy duty; USS Essex escorts convoy of merchant ships from East Indies to U.S. 1801 - U.S. squadron under Commodore Dale enters Mediterranean to strike Barbary Pirates. 1850 - Naval School at Annapolis renamed Naval Academy. 1851 - Naval Academy adopts four year course of study. 1911 - Trial of first Navy aircraft, Curtiss A-1. The designer, Glenn Curtiss, makes first flight in Navy's first aircraft, A-1, at Lake Keuka, N.Y., then prepares Lt. Theodore G. Ellyson, the first naval aviator, for his two solo flights in A-1. 1914 - Prohibition of alcohol begins in the Navy. 1916 - Establishment of informal school for officers assigned to submarines at New London, Conn.

Rear Adm. Victor Guillory, Mrs. Alma Gravely, family members and Prince William County Public School officials break ground for the Admiral Samuel L. Gravely Jr. Elementary School. The school is being named in honor of the Navy's first African American flag officer, vice admiral and fleet commander. U.S. Navy photo by Mr. A pioneering naval officer was honored April 23 when family members and officials gathered in Haymarket, Va., to break ground for a school which will be named for him. The Admiral Samuel L. Gravely Jr. Elementary School will carry the name of the U.S. Navy’s first black flag officer, vice admiral and fleet commander. Present at the site -- which was just a short distance from the Gravely residence -- were Alma Gravely, Rear Adm.

The Department of the Navy will name its newest Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer after the late Vice Adm. Samuel L. Gravely Jr. Chief of Naval Personnel. Vice Adm. According to the Pentagon, Samuel Lee Gravely Jr. was born in Richmond, Va., June 4, 1922. On Dec. 14, 1944, Gravely successfully completed midshipman training, becoming the first African American commissioned as an officer from the Navy Reserve Officer Training Course. He later worked as a Navy Recruiter, recruiting African Americans in the Washington, D.C. area. Gravely went on to a Navy career that lasted 38 years and included many distinguished accomplishments. According to Naval historians, Gravely was the first African American to command a warship (the USS Theodore E.