Existing comment:
Leonard Roy Harmon, 1917-1942
Born Cuero, Texas
World War II hero Leonard Roy Harmon was the first African American after whom a U.S. Navy ship was named. In June 1939 Harmon enlisted in the Navy and, following basic training in Norfolk, Virginia, was assigned to the cruiser USS San Francisco, where he advanced in rank to mess attendant first class. The Navy, like all armed forces, was segregated, limiting Harmon's options and advancement. During the Battle of Guadalcanal in November 1942, Harmon was killed on the San Francisco's deck while helping to evacuate a wounded shipmate. For "extraordinary heroism," he was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross. On July 25, 1943, the Navy launched a new destroyer, the USS Harmon, named in his honor. Like Dorie Miller, another African American sailor who died a hero a year later, Harmon was remembered on recruiting posters during World War II.
Unidentified artist, 1943 |