ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE
 
ROUTINE       
 
R 291524Z JAN 02 ZYB MIN PSN 545006J20
 
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1//
 
TO NAVADMIN
 
UNCLAS //N05354//
NAVADMIN 015/02
 
MSGID/GENADMIN/N1//
 
SUBJ/AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH, FEBRUARY 2002//
 
RMKS/1.  FEBRUARY 2002 MARKS THE 76TH ANNUAL OBSERVANCE OF AFRICAN
AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH.  ITS PURPOSE IS TO EDUCATE AMERICANS ABOUT
AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CONTRIBUTIONS AFRICAN AMERICANS
HAVE MADE TO OUR NATION.  THIS YEAR'S NATIONAL THEME ADOPTED BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE IS "THE AFRICAN AMERICAN LEGACY:
CONTRIBUTIONS AND SERVICE IN AMERICA'S DEFENSE."  THIS THEME
REFLECTS THE PAST STRUGGLES MADE BY THOSE MEN AND WOMEN WHO RISKED
AND OFTEN GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM.  IN ADDITION IT
REMINDS US OF THE EFFORTS AND SACRIFICES MADE BY THE MORE THAN
70,000 AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE IN THE UNITED STATES
NAVY TODAY.
 
2.  THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY, WE HAVE WITNESSED THE RICH HERITAGE OF
AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY.  OUR HEROES OF THE PAST
INCLUDE ENS JESSE LEROY BROWN, THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN NAVAL
AVIATOR WHO WAS POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS
FOR HIS KOREAN WAR COMBAT SERVICE; CHIEF GUNNER'S MATE JOHN HENRY
"DICK" TURPIN, THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN CHIEF PETTY OFFICER;
HARRIET IDA PICKENS AND FRANCES WILLS, THE FIRST AFFRICAN AMERICAN
FEMALE NAVAL OFFICERS COMMISSIONED THROUGH THE "WAVES" PROGRAM; AND
MESS ATTENDANT FIRST CLASS LEONARD ROY HARMON, POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED
THE NAVY CROSS FOR HIS HEROISM DURING THE NAVAL BATTLE OF GUADACANAL
AND THE FIRST AFFRICAN AMERICAN TO HAVE A NAVY SHIP NAMED AFTER
HIM, USS HARMON (DE 678).  THIS PAST JUNE, REAR ADMIRAL DAVID L.
BREWER III WAS THE FEATURED GUEST SPEAKER IN THE CHRISTENING OF THE
USS MASON (DDG 87).  ITS NAMESAKE, USS MASON (DE 529) PROUDLY SERVED
DURING THE RACIALLY TURBULENT WWII ERA.  IT WAS THE FIRST CREW TO BE
COMPOSED MOSTLY OF AFRICAN AMERICAN SAILORS.
 
3.  LIKE THE HEROES OF OUR PAST, MANY AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN AND WOMEN
CONTINUE TO BE HEROES TODAY.  CURRENTLY REAR ADMIRAL ANTHONY L.
WINNS SERVES AS COMMANDER, PATROL AND RECONNAISSANCE FORCE, U.S.
PACIFIC FLEET, INTRICATELY INVOLVED IN OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM.
SAILORS SUCH AS HT1(SW) MICHAEL HAYES AND HM3 TAYINIKIA CAMPBELL
RESPONDED VALIANTLY DURING THE TERRORIST ATTACK ON THE USS COLE.
SK2 SEAN TAITT WAS AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART AS HE STOOD IN THE LINE
OF FIRE IN THE COLE ATTACK.  THOUSANDS OF UNNAMED HEROES CONTINUE TO
SERVE PROUDLY IN OUR NAVY, INCLUDING MANY OF YOU WHO ARE SUPPORTING
OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM.
 
4.  ALL COMMANDS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONDUCT PROGRAMS, SPONSOR
EXHIBITS, PUBLISH ITEMS OF INTEREST IN COMMAND BULLETINS, AND SOLICIT
INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPATION IN APPROPRIATE OBSERVANCES OF AFRICAN
AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH.  PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL COMMUNITY PROGRAMS BY
CIVILIAN AND MILITARY PERSONNEL IS ALSO HIGHLY ENCOURAGED.  AN
INFORMATIONAL KIT ON AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH CAN BE OBTAINED
FROM:  ASALH, 7961 EASTERN AVE (STE 301), SILVER SPRING, MD 20910,
(301) 587-5900.
 
5.  FOR QUESTIONS OR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE MINORITY AFFAIRS
WEBSITE AT WWW.BUPERS.NAVY.MIL/MENTOR OR CONTACT LT WILLIE HARBERT
AT (703) 695-2824/DSN 225 OR EMAIL:  P00J3@BUPERS.NAVY.MIL.  COMMANDS
ARE ENCOURAGED TO INFORM THE POC OF ACTIVITIES IN YOUR AREA.
 
6.  RELEASED BY VADM NORB RYAN, JR., N1.//
 
BT