Jun 03, 2012 - The story of John Seagraves was trapped within a framed photograph aboard the USS North Carolina.
The decommissioned World War II battleship turned memorial, now on the Cape Fear River across from downtown Wilmington, was where Seagraves, a young black sailor who took a stand against racism in the Navy, worked his way up from a cook in the officers' kitchen to a 20 mm gunner. One of the photos still aboard today is of Seagraves and his gunner crew on April 14, 1945.
Moments before a Navy photographer snapped the shot, Seagraves and his gunner crew had shot a Japanese kamikaze airplane out of the sky. The enemy had slipped past dozens of American planes returning from an operation as well as spotters aboard the USS North Carolina. The kamikaze aircraft was heading straight for the ship, endangering all on board.
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Seagraves was assigned to Steward's Branch, a unit of black sailors serving white officers. Once aboard the USS North Carolina, his interest in becoming a gunner opened eight positions for black sailors on the 20 mm guns, forming the crew that ultimately saved the battleship.
If not for Seagraves' persistence, he would have never manned the gun. Having been originally assigned to tidy up the officers' rooms, he told his chief he would not clean up after them.
"I refused to be a servant on the ship," John said. "They called me a troublemaker. I just don't want to be a flunkie to anybody." read more>>>
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