Master Diver Carl Brashear was born on January 19, 1931, in Tonieville, Kentucky. He joined the Navy in Feb 1948. A 31-year Navy veteran, Brashear retired in 1979 as a Master Chief Boatswain’s Mate, the highest enlisted rank in the U.S. Navy. In 1966 while diving to recover a lost nuclear weapon off Spain’s coast, Brashear was severely injured in an accident. As a result, surgeons amputated his left leg below the knee. He refused to submit to a medical board’s attempt to retire him as unfit for duty. After demonstrating that he could still dive and perform his other duties, he was assigned to Harbor Clearance Unit 2, Naval Air Station Norfolk, Experimental Diving Unit. He was the first person to be returned to full service as a Navy diver after losing a limb in a diving salvage accident. There was a movie made about him in 2000 called Men of Honor. Master Chief Brasher was everything a good senior leader should be; he led from the front, he didn’t take no for an answer when he knew he was right, took care of the people below him, and left the Navy a better place then he found it.
Below, Carl training after he lost his leg, getting back to full active duty status.
Master Chief Petty Officer with at least 28 years of honorable service. An extraordinary technical expert and leader. And just three personal awards. Yes, one of them is “the highest non-combat decoration awarded for heroism by the United States Department of the Navy.” But still, this is pretty telling evidence that our current policy of handing out medals like candy has gone too far.
Couple things there I think you are missing with regard to your “awards like candy” comment. 1 this man succeeded in the navy despite enormous racism. To believe that racism didn’t effect him with regards to awards is just denying human reality. 2. He also, unless I am mistaken, never served in combat. 3 we are currently in the longest US conflict. Based on how combat awards were given during WW2, Korea, and Vietnam we are woefully under rewarding our combat soldiers. Now, are we mistakenly giving senior people bronze stars as “end of tour awards” I most wholeheartedly agree. But when one of my recondos gets nothing but a Purple Heart for taking shrapnel from a grenade, killing the two attackers, then leading his patrol on foot back to outpost before receiving medical attention….. well I beg to differ about how much “candy” is being given out.
All very valid points – completely agree on the potential for racism keeping Master Chief Brashear from being recognized/awarded for his performance. And also on some current failures to recognize valor in combat. I was really referring to all of the achievement and commendation medals being given to all ranks at end of tour for people who pretty much just did their jobs. And for the BSMs for senior people spending a tour down range. Same basic idea.
It is foolish to say there was not racism in the USN in the 1950’s-70’s, or before or since then for what it’s worth. It is equally foolish to assume, as you do, that some/most sailors in a position to give this man a medal(s) for superior/heroic performance of his duties throughout his career were racists. In one brief burst of self-righteous typing, you effectively damn as racist every chain of command the Master Chief served in. It is possible, of course, that he missed out on awards due to racism but your theoretical generalizations are one reason we seem stuck in a quagmire in this country when it comes to race. You provide no facts pertaining to this individual and the direct impact of racism leading to a particular medal(s) not being awarded and, especially if we are in a nation that is aimed at righting the wrongs of racism, facts when making claims are absolutely essential. The only “human reality” we’re seeing here are your claims of racism, apparently based largely on emotion, anecdotes and/or perhaps some study or article you’ve read claiming racism in the Navy back then was as ubiquitous as air, which seems to be a popular trend and are one big reason for the growing division, mistrust, tensions and finger-pointing. No one I’ve served with would say that there weren’t/aren’t racists in the military but in my own experience/opinion, there are more racists outside the military than inside. Further, and again in my experience, there is nothing better than military service, which puts all sorts of men alongside one another in the most challenging situations known, the shared adversities of combat and combat training, to eliminate the misunderstandings, assumptions and just plain bad information that leads to racism in the first place. In the absence of facts, your assumptions and claims do more harm than good.
Yes, but…
Have you read about BMCM Brashear? From Wikipedia: “While attending diving school in Bayonne, New Jersey, Brashear faced hostility and racism. He found notes on his bunk saying, “We’re going to drown you today, nigger!” and “We don’t want any nigger divers.” Brashear received encouragement to finish from Boatswain’s Mate First Class Rutherford, and graduated 16 out of 17.”
It’s true we don’t know the reasons why his chain of command did or didn’t give him more medals. But he experienced real racism, not the hypothetical kind.
At the risk of preaching to the choir. This man in the face of personal and “systematic” opposition rose to the top and became a role. One if his sons became an officer.
I wish American media and politicians would focus on the opportunities of America rather than regress to tribal warfare. Bad people with bad ideas will always exist no matter how much force is applied in the “Utopia by Force” politics America appears to be embracing now.
Racism to bring equality, violence to bring peace, taxation to bring prosperity. It will never work. The Imperial Russian Navy support was critical to the Bolsheviks until they realized they had traded on set of masters for another more brutal set of masters.
I’ve met his son. He was a helicopter pilot with the Virginia Army National Guard. Not sure if he has retired.
Awesome! Big shoes to fill for that gentleman.
I just met his son in Chesapeak. I was there for a Puplic safety dive conference and his son was staying at the hotel and asked to speak as he loves being around divers. He is still in the army and a great guy.
I feel like I need to go do PT.
Pretty incredible man.