The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-05-05
Enrolment OF Negroes In Integrated
Naval Schools Sign OF War Progress

cant development in the training
OF Negro Bluejackets is their en-.
rollment in integrated service
schools OF the u S. Navy.
In September Of 1914. the first
Negro. Charles williams Redding,
Los Angeles. Calf. was admitted
TO the TOrped0man's School here
at the u. 5. Naval Training Cen
ter. and the Nays integrated
Service School program was in
augurated. No separate list of
Negro Service School Selectees
is maintained. Men are selected
as per a Bureau Of Personnel di-
receive on the basis of their ex-
animation and interview re
CARELESS Of race"
SINCE Redding entered the tor
pedonan's school, nine men have
followed him, and all of them were
well up in their classes" reports
the Commanding Officer of the
school. Negroes have also been adj
mitted and have successfully com.
pleied their courses IN gunners
mate. radio technician. radioman,
radarman, electricians mate. sig
mailman. carpenters mate. and fire
control schools. Many OF the grad
yates Of these schools are now on
duty with the Fleet and are an int.
grail part of their ships activities.
Typical Of the chronological train
ing that these men receive in the
Navy service schools is the instruc-
ton given IN Fire Control School.
The fire controlman controls the
fire of our big Navy guns, and not
a little of the u. S. Nays success
in exterminating the ship fleet and
elimination of many German ships
can be directly attributed 10 the
skill and accuracy OF our fire con-
trolmen.
TO HIT small target ten or
twenty miles away. the fire con-
trolman must take into account the
iange. bearing and course of the
target: pitch. roll. and speed Of his
own ship; the kind Of power used;
wind velocity. and atmospheric
conditions. He is responsible for
the maintenance Of the fire control
equipment as the condition Of this
apparatus affects the speed and &C
curacy with which the guns are
hred. and all this influences the
outcome OF Naval battles.
The FIRE controlman serves chief
~ aboard the larger ships. includ-
me destroyers while volunteers
Wno meet certain standards may
De placed aboard submarines. Hes
responsible for the maintenance.
repair and operation Of rangefind-
ers. telescopes, SwitchboardS. COM
munlcailons systems. automatic
signal equipment. gun directors and
computerS. Working with such
equipment requires working
knowledge Of such varied subjects
as electronlcS. hydraulics. optics.
electricity mathematics. hand tools.
and mechanici>mS.
FOR MANY YEARS Negroes
have attended the Navy Service
Schools for Cooks and Bakers that
are located all over the United
States. However. shortly after they
were accepted for general service
in the u S. Navy in June OF 1912.
Negroes began studying for gen.
eral service rates in Navy Schools
a; that time September 1922
nine service schools we're set up in
Camp Robert Snalls here al Great
Lakes and At Hampton Institute.
Hampton. Virginia. In the two and
one-half wears since the schools
were opened. hundreds OF Negroes
have successfully completed the
courses IN Gunner's Mates. Quar-
iermaSierS. SIgnalmcn Woman.
S'oTckeeperS. Rad.oman Machin-
S. Mates. Aviation MctalSniths.
and Shore Pa;yalmen Schools
Many " these graduates have been
rated and are now serving with
ne Fleet and al shore stations
throughout the world