Black sailor’s World War II heroism commemorated in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX) — On Memorial Day weekend, a San Francisco custom was revived after a two-year hiatus because of the pandemic.  The annual ceremony was held to honor the reminiscence of the USS San Francisco within the battle of Guadalcanal throughout World Struggle II.  The occasion additionally honored a sailor who was recommended for his bravery, at the same time as he battled racism within the army.

The memorial to the USS San Francisco sits in a quiet spot subsequent to Land’s Finish, its flagpole flanked by what’s left of the ship’s battered bridge, full of holes from the assault it endured on Nov. 13, 1942.

“The USS San Francisco and its ships filed proper into the middle of a Japanese armada,” stated John McKnight, president of the USS San Francisco Basis. “And in the midst of them, with ships surrounding them on all sides, they opened hearth within the pitch darkish and it was a brawl — there is not any higher approach to describe it.”

Miraculously, the ship was not sunk however 77 sailors died within the battle, together with a lot of the command employees. At Sunday’s ceremony, their names had been learn aloud and a bell was rung to honor their passing.  

One fallen sailor, Petty Officer Leonard Roy Harmon, made historical past in one other method.  He was a kitchen attendant — one of many few jobs that African Individuals might maintain on a ship again then — however, in the course of the battle, he started serving to transfer wounded troopers together with the ship’s govt officer.

“Photographs had been ripping by means of the wall whereas he is carrying this man down. He stands between him and the doorway the place the bullets are coming by means of and he takes the complete brunt of the machine gun hearth,” stated Dr. Jim Armstead, a retired Naval Struggle Faculty professor.

Professor Armstead, who gave the ceremony’s keynote tackle, stated Harmon in all probability ought to have obtained the Medal of Honor for his actions however as a substitute the Navy granted him an honor that was even rarer — they named a ship for him.

Dr. Armstead stated that was unparalleled on the time.

“To begin with, an unlisted man — there’s not many ships named after unlisted males and there have been no ships that had ever been named after a Black sailor,” Armstead stated.

The Navy used Harmon’s heroic story in promotional movies as a approach to placate African Individuals who might have been feeling offended concerning the restricted position they got within the struggle.  In a single newsreel titled “The Negro Sailor,” a hesitant Black sailor is instructed tales about how Harmon and different mess attendants carried out courageously in battle.

“Do not ever overlook this about Steward’s Mates,” the movie’s narrator says. “They might pour soup between battles however in battle they pour lead with the very best of them!”

“That is wartime,” Dr. Armstead stated. “So ensuring African Individuals are going to be loyal to the nation while you’ve bought the Japanese on one aspect and Hitler on the opposite — it is vital to carry the nation collectively.”

Harmon was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross and the ship named for him served from 1943 to 1947.  His was simply certainly one of 77 lives misplaced within the horrific battle however his valor was exceptional contemplating his struggle was on two fronts.

“The double V for victory,” Dr. Armstead stated, twisting his two fingers forwards and backwards. “Should you had been Black, you turned your fingers the opposite method.  It is one victory over segregation, the opposite is over our enemies and that was prevalent within the Black group within the second world struggle.” 

He stated that is why it was so vital for the Navy to increase the glory to Harmon. 

“It demonstrated that the nation understood that everyone was combating for it.”