Fact for the day

• Posted by J W July 25, 2012 - Filed in Society - 3,295 views

   On this day in 1943, the 1st warship was named after an African American Leonard Roy Harmon. USS Harmon was launched at Bethlehem Steel Company's Fore River shipyard in Quincy, Massachusetts. Harmon was born in Cuero, Texas & at the age of 22 he enlisted in the U. S. Navy in June 1939. He trained as a Mess Attendant, one of the few jobs available to black men in the navy at that time. The basic job description consisted of serving food to officers & crew aboard ship. However, like all members of a ship’s crew they were also trained in damage control & had stations to report to during general quarters.
  During his service he became a Mess Attendant First Class & was serving aboard the USS San Francisco on November 13, 1942 when he was killed in action. During the course of the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal he helped in caring for the wounded. While doing so he deliberately exposed himself to enemy gunfire in order to protect a shipmate. This action resulted in his death. Rest In Peace Brother.