With odds stacked against them and strong feelings that African Americans could not succeed as officers, in January 1944, 16 Black enlisted men would assemble at U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Iillinois, for officer training. Expected to complete the course in eight weeks when normally finished in 16, they would help each other succeed with all passing their exams. The final scores, taken twice because of a belief of cheating, would be the highest average of any Navy class at that time, 3.89 out of 4.
Despite all passing, the Navy #OTD in 1944, only commission 12 officers and a thirteenth was made a chief warrant officer, hence the moniker “The Golden Thirteen.” The other three men were sent back to the enlisted ranks with no explanation given.
Read more about these men and their journey, visit https://bit.ly/TheGoldenThirteen
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