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Intensive biography emphasizing youth, USNA education, ship assignments, cruiser commands, Superintendent of USNA, President, Naval War College.
This oral history is of particular significance because it contains the recollections of one of the early line officers commissioned by the U.S. Navy and later the Navy's first black commander, captain, rear admiral, and vice admiral. Gravely was commissioned in 1944 through the college V-12 program and served in World War II on board the submarine chaser USS PC-1264. After a postwar stint of civilian life, he was recalled to active duty in 1949 as a recruiter and remained in active service until his retirement in 1980. He had Korean War service in the battleship USS Iowa (BB-61). Later tours of duty in the 1950s included the heavy cruiser USS Toledo (CA-133), staff of the Third Naval District, and the attack cargo ship USS Seminole (AKA-104). In the 1960s he was executive officer and acting commanding officer of the destroyer USS Theodore E. Chandler (DD-717), commanded the radar picket destroyer escort USS Falgout (DER-324), helped integrate the Naval War College, served in the Defense Communications Agency in the Pentagon, commanded the destroyer USS Taussig (DD-746), and was coordinator of the Navy's satellite communications program. While in command of the guided missile destroyer leader USS Jouett (DLG-29), he was selected for flag rank in 1971. Both the Taussig and Jouett had Vietnam War service during his time as skipper. His flag commands included Naval Communications Command, Cruiser-Destroyer Group Two, the Eleventh Naval District, Third Fleet, and the Defense Communications Agency. When he became Commander Third Fleet in 1976 he was promoted to vice admiral, another first for an African American. Admiral Gravely's post-Navy activities included work with the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association.
Designated as naval aviator in 1941, Admiral Minter served as a bomber pilot in antisubmarine patrols and convoy coverage flights in the North Atlantic. Later was XO of patrol squadron in Trinidad and XO of Headquarters Squadron Nine at Quonset Point, Rhode Island. In 1944 was assistant air officer in the USS Randolph (CV-15) when saw action in raids on Tokyo and in the Iwo Jima and Okinawa campaigns. After serving as assistant director for Tactical Test at Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, he assumed command of Patrol Squadron 28 which engaged in reconnaissance missions and antisubmarine patrols against Korean forces. He was CO of the USS Albemarle (AV-5), in 1958. Volume I concludes with his duty as Assistant Chief of Staff for Readiness to Commander Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. Volume II picks up Admiral Minter's career in 1961 when he was selected to be Commandant of Midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy, and then Superintendent in 1964. These were years when compulsory chapel attendance was challenged and a new curriculum implemented to allow each student to select a major. In 1965 he was assigned Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff for Plans and Policy, Supreme Allied Commander Europe. In 1967 he assumed the Command of Carrier Division Sixteen, contributing to improved antisubmarine warfare capabilities of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet. He then became Commander Fleet Air Wings Pacific, with additional duty as Commander Antisubmarine Warfare Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet. His last assignment before retirement in 1974 was Deputy Chairman of the NATO Committee in the Navy Department.
Designated as naval aviator in 1941, Admiral Minter served as a bomber pilot in antisubmarine patrols and convoy coverage flights in the North Atlantic. Later was XO of patrol squadron in Trinidad and XO of Headquarters Squadron Nine at Quonset Point, Rhode Island. In 1944 was assistant air officer in the USS Randolph (CV-15) when saw action in raids on Tokyo and in the Iwo Jima and Okinawa campaigns. After serving as assistant director for Tactical Test at Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, he assumed command of Patrol Squadron 28 which engaged in reconnaissance missions and antisubmarine patrols against Korean forces. He was CO of the USS Albemarle (AV-5), in 1958. Volume I concludes with his duty as Assistant Chief of Staff for Readiness to Commander Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. Volume II picks up Admiral Minter's career in 1961 when he was selected to be Commandant of Midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy, and then Superintendent in 1964. These were years when compulsory chapel attendance was challenged and a new curriculum implemented to allow each student to select a major. In 1965 he was assigned Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff for Plans and Policy, Supreme Allied Commander Europe. In 1967 he assumed the Command of Carrier Division Sixteen, contributing to improved antisubmarine warfare capabilities of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet. He then became Commander Fleet Air Wings Pacific, with additional duty as Commander Antisubmarine Warfare Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet. His last assignment before retirement in 1974 was Deputy Chairman of the NATO Committee in the Navy Department.