As the ships seventh captain, OReilly assumed command in August 2019. (This man later became godfather to Gravely's eldest child.) The Sailors of USS Cole (DDG 67) and USS Gravely (DDG 107) have been very busy in the Atlantic lately, supporting two major exercises and honing their skills in multiple areas of maritime operations and tactics., U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFFC) . Be Nice. 22 May 1970 - 2 June 1971, Captain Hunter Washburn, Gravely's commanding officer. He also developed and improved fleet tactics, organized and scheduled ship movements and port visits, and conducted anti-submarine warfare operations. The ship is named in honor of Vice Admiral Samuel L. Gravely Jr. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication 3rd Class Amber Donnelly, 151116-N-WJ261-033. Todd Zenner, which include USS Bainbridge (DDG 96), USS Cole (DDG 67), USS Gonzalez (DDG 66), USS Gravely (DDG 107) and USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109); and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS San Jacinto (CG 56), commanded by Capt. Captain Samuel L. Gravely Jr. photographed circa 1970 while he was commanding officer of USS Jouett (DLG-29). Welcome. Elementary School in his honor. Thomas J Gregory She is named after Vice Admiral Samuel L. Gravely, Jr. The crew gained an invaluable amount of knowledge of the region during their operations on this deployment, and their relationship with our Allies and partner nations show just how impactful our strike group ships can be. 19 August 1988 - 11 January 1991, Captain Alma let the crew know that she believed they were ready. For more news from C2F, visit https://www.c2f.navy.mil and for more information visit http://www.facebook.com/US2ndFleet or http://twitter.com/US2ndFleet, Subject specific information for the media, Events or announcements of note for the media, An official website of the United States government. officer, Vice Adm. Samuel L. Gravely. [2], At the time of his promotion to rear admiral, he was in command of the guided missile frigate USSJouett(DLG-29). Samuel L. Gravely, Jr. Commissioned in 2010, she has been on several overseas deployments. Hunter D. Washburn Commander Washburn is a native of Andover, Massachusetts where he graduated from Phillips Academy Andover.. Brian Sanchez, Gravely's executive officer. 312 officers and enlisted: Armament: Guns: 5-inch (127 mm)/62 Mk 45 Mod 4 (lightweight gun) 1 20 mm Phalanx CIWS; 2 25 mm Mk 38 Machine Gun System; . Cmdr. [3], After receiving basic training at Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois, Gravely entered the V-12 Navy College Training Program at the University of California, Los Angeles. Gravely was launched on 30 March 2009. Naval Forces Europe area of operations in late 2021 with the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) carrier strike group. Furthermore, African-American officers were limited to work on large ships. USS Gravely (DDG-107) is an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer in the United States Navy. job and at times the hardest job. He eventually earned a reputation as an expert in naval communications. He is a graduate of Old Dominion University, Johns Hopkins University, and the Naval War College. Cmdr. [1] Early life and training Donald Martin Navy. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism High 68F. Adm. Gravely was highly decorated with the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, and Navy Commendation Medal. who achieved many firsts as an officer in the United States (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Nathan T. Beard/Released), NORFOLK, Va. (June 24, 2022) [9] In June 2016 while escorting the aircraft carrier USSHarry S. Truman the destroyer had a close encounter with a Russian Navy frigate causing Russian and US Navy officials to accuse each other of dangerous and unprofessional conduct. [6] On 28 October 2013, the destroyers Gravely and Ramage answered a distress call from vessel a carrying immigrants located 160 nautical miles (300km; 180mi) off the coast of Kalamata, Greece. [13], On 24 June 2022, Gravely returned to Norfolk.[14]. "Operating with Allies and. According to Cmdr. Machinists Mate 3rd Class Dmitri Rivera, assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107), embraces family on the pier following a return to Naval Station Norfolk after a regularly scheduled deployment in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts, June 23. on the example of a great American, a great man and a great naval Naval History and Heritage Command photograph, NH 96775. Cole is headed to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility for a routine deployment focused on ballistic missile defense. 24 April 1993 - 28 January 1994. Retired Navy Admiral J. Paul Reason was the principal speaker at the ceremony, which was held at Northrop's facility in Pascagoula. Naval Reserve in 1942. The presiding officer was Capt. The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HSTCSG) includes flagship USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75); the nine squadrons of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1, commanded by Capt. Threats of harming another accounts, the history behind an article. that is degrading to another person. Higher wind gusts possible.. As a full commander, he again made naval history in 1966 as the first black commander to lead a shipthe USS Taussiginto direct offensive action. "The United States and Lithuania are celebrating a milestone 100 years of unbroken diplomatic relations in 2022," said Cmdr. "Obituary," United States Department of Defense, www.defenselink.mil/releases/2004/nr20041022-1434.html (January 31, 2005). Long after Truman's executive order, the unofficial policy in the navy was to have as few blacks as possible on any ship. I am both honored and humbled for the opportunity to take command of such a wonderful ship and crew, Cmdr. Naval History and Heritage Command photograph, NH 96774. Low near 50F. The ship and crew also completed an eleven-month maintenance period at General Dynamics-NASSCO shipyard in Norfolk, and recently returned to underway operations and Sea Trials. Gravely is deployed conducting maritime operations as the flagship of Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 in the U.S 6th Fleet area of operations. Sailors visited local Patrick Hourigan; the staff and guided-missile destroyers of DESRON 28, commanded by Capt. Use the 'Report' link on He had Korean War service in the battleship USS Iowa . US Navy photo. As a new recruit, he was Portrait photograph dated 7 March 1972. All Rights Reserved Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. After a short stint at the post office himself, Gravely responded to the call to arms issued during the Second World War and joined the U.S. Navy. principal address. WILMINGTON, N.C. (Nov. 20, 2010) Sailors man the ship and bring her to life during the commissioning ceremony for the U.S. Navy's newest guided missile destroyer, USS Gravely (DDG 107). This work, USS Gravely holds Change of Command, by PO1 Jacob Milham, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright. Gravely also operated alongside the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group, comprised of Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), dock landing ship Gunston Hall (LPD 44), and amphibious transport dock USS Arlington (LPD 24) with the embarked 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). He returned to his hometown of Richmond and re-enrolled at Virginia Union University, graduating in 1948 with a degree in history and then working as a railway postal clerk. On May 2, 1945, Lt. Samuel L. Gravely Jr. reported aboard PC-1264 as its first Black officer but he never commanded the vessel. U.S. OReilly received his commission from the U.S. His three children and his wife, Alma, survived him. Born Samuel Lee Gravely, Jr., on June 4, 1922, in Richmond, VA; died on October 22, 2004, in Bethesda, MD; son of Samuel L. (a postal worker) and Mary George Gravely; married Alma Bernice Clark, 1946; children: Robert (deceased), David, Tracy. WILMINGTON, N.C. (Nov. 20, 2010) Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Gary Roughead, left, the Honorable Senator Kay Hagan, and Cmdr. If junior officers never get a chance to run the ship, pretty soon they are senior officers and they still The crew of the Taussig was skeptical at first. USS U.S. Captain Samuel L. Gravely, Jr. 22 May 1970 - 2 June 1971. Navy. You have permission to edit this article. a numbered fleet (3rd Fleet). Vice Admiral Samuel L. Gravely, Jr., (center), Vice Admiral Robert P. Coogan (right), and an unidentified commander (left) saluting during the Third Fleet Change of Command ceremony on board USS Reeves (CG-24) at the Naval Supply Center, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, 10 September 1976. 757-927-1478. You have worked tirelessly to get Gravely through a year-long maintenance availability, and it was a wonderful feeling to see your hard work pay off as we got underway for sea trials, returning Gravely to operational status and back into the fight." Many in until 0400 est. "I still do things for the military," he told Ebony in 1990. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. DANFS - Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Permitting Policy and Resource Management, The 9/11 Terrorist Attacks: 20 Years Later, "Ex Scientia Tridens": The U.S. Gravely was deployed as part of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group. Gravely deployed to the U.S. 12 February 1974 - 23 January 1976, Captain I guess the urge for government service was just that overpowering." Naval Academy in 2001 with a degree in systems engineering. 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. No one wanted to live with you, so I volunteered. This was Gravely's first change of command since being commissioned in November 2010. Pride in our ships! "You have worked tirelessly to get Gravely through a year-long maintenance availability, and it was a wonderful feeling to see your hard work pay off as we got underway for sea trials, returning Gravely to operational status and back into the fight," he said. Corey Odom relieved Cmdr. A native of Richmond, Virginia, Gravely would go on to be the U.S. Navys first African-American commander, captain, rear admiral, and vice admiral. He is also a graduate from the Naval Postgraduate School. Gravely died on October 22, 2004, at the naval hospital in Bethesda, Maryland. Cmdr. Gravely was deployed as part of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group. NORFOLK, Va. -- Cmdr. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. newest destroyer to life. Douglas Kunzman, USS Gravelys Commanding Officer, told His many decorations, honors, and awards attest to his success. There is a much freer atmosphere when junior officers can perform certain tasks. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, What color is he?". Captain R. Frederick Stalder Jr. 12 February 1974 - 23 January 1976 . The ceremony honored the late Vice Adm. Samuel L. Gravely, Jr., Since arriving in theater, the ship has participated. attendance were family and friends of USS Gravelys crew, while down, said Kunzman. Gravely knew that the briefing pertained to his race, and he later told Ebony: "I gave the letter to my roommate and suggested that it be returned to the ship's office. '", Gravely survived the indignities of racial prejudice and displayed unquestionable competence as a naval officer. For more news from PCU Gravely (DDG 107), visit