On July 25, 2006, Master Chief Boatswain’s Mate Carl Brashear died at Portsmouth Naval Hospital. MCBM Brashear was the Navy’s first African-American Master Diver, and was the subject of the movie, Men of Honor.

MCBM Brashear enlisted in the U.S. Navy on February 25, 1948 and served our country in a exemplary manner for over 30 years, retiring on April 1, 1979 as a Master Chief Petty Officer, the highest enlisted rank in the Navy. During his career, MCBM Brashear served in many demanding and high profile positions, attaining the coveted status of Master Diver, as well as Saturation Diver. Enlisting in the Navy in 1948, MCBM Brashear was also among the first African American sailors to join the newly desegregated military, enduring the prejudices and hardships associated with that monumental transition.

In March, 1966, MCBM Brashear played a key role in the recovery of a hydrogen bomb lost when two aircraft collided off the coast of Spain. During the recovery efforts, MCBM Brashear’s left leg was severely injured, later requiring amputation to save his life. While most men would have been medically retired from the military, MCBM Brashear’s drive and desire to attain his goals in the military led to his not only remaining in the military, but continuing to dive. He endured many months of recuperation, physical therapy and arduous testing to reconfirm his ability to dive with this disability. Surpassing the expectations of many, MCBM Brashear’s will and drive saw him through these tests, and to his return to full diving status.

During my service with the 224th Aviation Battalion, Virginia Army National Guard, it was my pleasure to serve with MCBM Brashear’s son, CW2 Philip Brashear, who is still a Blackhawk helicopter pilot currently serving on deployment to Iraq with that battalion. At our unit Christmas party in 2001, it was my honor to meet MCBM Brashear, and to have an opportunity to talk at length with him about his career, as well as his philosophies and perspectives in leadership and military service. Speaking with him was, as you can imagine, a captivating experience and one which was highly motivational in learning about the challenges he overcame to achieve his goals. He was certainly an inspiration to me as a fellow E-9 in the military, and he provided an even greater role model to the enlisted soldiers of the unit present to hear him speak.

I’m sure you’ll agree that MCBM Brashear served his country and the U.S. Navy with pride, earning him the movie’s title of “Men of Honor”. As you go through your day today, take a few moments to be thankful for those who continue to serve our country and us in these roles, those whom are often forgotten or taken for granted, even when they’re needed most.

Zane Frye
Naui instructor
Atlantis Divers