Rear Admiral Larry Chambers, USN
First African American to Command an Aircraft Carrier
Nonfiction, Reference & Language, Transportation, Ships & Shipbuilding, Social & Cultural Studies, Social Science, Cultural Studies, African-American Studies, History, Military
| Author: | Ric Murphy | ISBN: | 9781476627533 |
| Publisher: | McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers | Publication: | January 12, 2018 |
| Imprint: | Language: | English |
| Author: | Ric Murphy |
| ISBN: | 9781476627533 |
| Publisher: | McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers |
| Publication: | January 12, 2018 |
| Imprint: | |
| Language: | English |
The first African-American aircraft carrier commander, Rear Admiral Lawrence Cleveland Chambers (1929– ) played a prominent role as captain of the USS Midway during the Vietnam War. During the evacuation of Saigon—known as Operation Frequent Wind—he famously ordered several UH-1 helicopters pushed overboard to make room for an escaping South Vietnamese Air Force major to land his Cessna. Chambers, who had only commanded Midway for a few weeks, gave the order believing (wrongly) that he would be court-martialed for the $10 million loss. This biography covers his early life and military career, including his role in the desegregation of the U.S. Navy during a period racial strife.
The first African-American aircraft carrier commander, Rear Admiral Lawrence Cleveland Chambers (1929– ) played a prominent role as captain of the USS Midway during the Vietnam War. During the evacuation of Saigon—known as Operation Frequent Wind—he famously ordered several UH-1 helicopters pushed overboard to make room for an escaping South Vietnamese Air Force major to land his Cessna. Chambers, who had only commanded Midway for a few weeks, gave the order believing (wrongly) that he would be court-martialed for the $10 million loss. This biography covers his early life and military career, including his role in the desegregation of the U.S. Navy during a period racial strife.
