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2006 SPECIAL SESSION I


SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 5050
Celebrating the life of Master Chief Carl Maxie Brashear.
 
Agreed to by the Senate, August 28, 2006
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, September 27, 2006
 

WHEREAS, Master Chief Carl Maxie Brashear, a courageous and inspirational patriot and the first African American to become a master diver in the United States Navy, died on July 25, 2006; and

WHEREAS, as a member of a sharecropper’s family, Carl Maxie Brashear grew up on a farm in Kentucky and was educated in segregated schools; and

WHEREAS, in 1948, Carl Brashear enlisted in the United States Navy and soon was assigned to handle aircraft for squadron VX-1 in Key West, Florida; and

WHEREAS, as a boatswain's mate, Carl Brashear served on the escort carriers Palau CVE-122 and Tripoli CVE-64, and he also began training in salvage diving and became the first black deep sea diver in naval history; and

WHEREAS, on March 23, 1966, the crew of the USS Hoist ARS-40 was attempting to recover a nuclear bomb off the coast of Spain after the collision of two Air Force planes; Carl Brashear was working onboard and was badly injured during the mission, resulting in the loss of his left leg below the knee; and

WHEREAS, Carl Brashear refused to accept defeat or retirement; through tremendous personal courage and by way of a new prosthesis and a strenuous exercise program supervised by his dedicated team of Navy doctors, he persevered in his career as a Navy diver; and

WHEREAS, through hard work and dedication, Carl Brashear proved to himself and to the Navy that he not only could dive again, but that he could also perform all of his duties; and

WHEREAS, in 1970, Carl Brashear became one of the first amputees in the military to be restored to active duty; and

WHEREAS, notably, with great resolve and skill, Master Chief Brashear became the first African American to become a master diver in the United States Navy; and

WHEREAS, Master Chief Brashear's outstanding achievements and excellent naval career was portrayed in the acclaimed movie "Men of Honor," starring Cuba Gooding, Jr.; and

WHEREAS, Master Chief Brashear was a superb role model and a tremendous inspiration to his fellow divers, sailors, and superior officers, as well as to all of those who have learned of his outstanding achievements in the United States Navy; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly mourn the passing of a brave Navy diver and outstanding Virginian, Master Chief Carl Maxie Brashear; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Master Chief Carl Maxie Brashear as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.