Rear Admiral Larry Chambers, USN - by Ric Murphy (Paperback)

About the Book

"The first African-American aircraft carrier commander, Rear Admiral Lawrence Cleveland Chambers (1920- ) played a prominent role as captain of the USS Midway during the Vietnam War. This biography covers his early life and military career, including his role in the desegregation of the U.S. Navy during a period of racial strife"--

Book Synopsis

The first African-American aircraft carrier commander, Rear Admiral Lawrence Cleveland Chambers (1929- ) played a prominent role as captain of the USS Midway during the Vietnam War. During the evacuation of Saigon--known as Operation Frequent Wind--he famously ordered several UH-1 helicopters pushed overboard to make room for an escaping South Vietnamese Air Force major to land his Cessna. Chambers, who had only commanded Midway for a few weeks, gave the order believing (wrongly) that he would be court-martialed for the $10 million loss. This biography covers his early life and military career, including his role in the desegregation of the U.S. Navy during a period racial strife.

About the Author

Ric Murphy is an educator, historian, lecturer and award-winning author. He has served as board chair of several organizations and on numerous additional national and local not-for-profit boards. He lives in Virginia.