Lawrence Chambers

Lawrence Cleveland Chambers
Chambers in 2018
Nickname(s)"Larry"
Born (1929-06-10) June 10, 1929 (age 95)
Bedford, Virginia, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service / branchUnited States Navy
Years of service1952–1984
RankRear admiral
CommandsUSS Midway (CV-41)
USS Coral Sea (CV-43)
Carrier Strike Group Three
Battles / warsVietnam War
AwardsBronze Star[1]
Vietnam Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal

Lawrence Cleveland "Larry" Chambers (born June 10, 1929) is the first African American to command a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier and the first African-American graduate of the Naval Academy to reach flag rank.[2] While in command of USS Midway during Operation Frequent Wind, Chambers gave the controversial order to push overboard millions of dollars' worth of UH-1 Huey helicopters so Republic of Vietnam Air Force Major Buang-Ly could land on the aircraft carrier in a Cessna O-1 Bird Dog with his wife and five children, thereby saving their lives.[3]

  1. ^ http://www.navsource.org/archives/02/people/chambers_lawrence_c.jpg [bare URL image file]
  2. ^ African American Flag Officers in the U.S. Navy, Naval History and Heritage Command, accessed March 16, 2013.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Reef2004 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).