Delbert Black
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Delbert D. Black | |
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![]() 1st Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy | |
Born | Orr, Oklahoma | 11 July 1922
Died | 5 March 2000 Winter Park, Florida | (aged 77)
Buried | |
Allegiance | United States of America |
Service/ | United States Navy |
Years of service | 1941–1971 |
Rate | ![]() |
Commands | Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy |
Battles/wars | World War II *Attack on Pearl Harbor |
Awards | Navy Distinguished Service Medal |
Delbert D. Black (11 July 1922 – 5 March 2000) was the first Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, from 13 January 1967 to 1 April 1971.
Biography
Black was born in Orr, Oklahoma, graduating from high school in 1940. He enlisted in the United States Navy on 14 March 1941. Delbert "Del" Black was married to Ima Black (who is 95 in 2015) for 50 years and has a son Donny D. Black. Upon completion of recruit training in San Diego, he was assigned to the USS Maryland (BB-46) and was aboard during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. He later served at Receiving Station, Pearl Harbor; USS Doyle C. Barnes (DE-353); Naval Air Base Samar, Philippines; USS Gardiners Bay (AVP-39), USS Boxer (CVA-21); USS Antietam (CVA-36); U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard, Washington, D.C.; Yokosuka, Japan ship repair facilities; USS Brush (DD-745); USS Carpenter (DDE-825); USS Norfolk (DL-1); Recruiting Duty, Columbia, Tennessee; USS Springfield (CL-66); USS Independence (CV-62); and Fleet Anti-Air Warfare Training Center (FAAWTC), Dam Neck, Virginia. During his career, he advanced from striking for the rate of Gunner's Mate to the rank of Master Chief.
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
On 13 January 1967, the Secretary of the Navy announced the appointment of Master Chief Gunner's Mate (GMCM) Black as the first Senior Enlisted Advisor, the position that would evolve into Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy. As such, he was the highest rated enlisted man in the U.S. Navy, serving as the enlisted representative to the Chief of Naval Operations. His function was to counsel the highest ranks of the Navy on issues associated with enlisted guidance, leadership, and policy. MCPON Black was the first enlisted man to write a foreword for The Bluejacket's Manual.
Retirement and later work
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/79/Delbert_Black_grave.jpg/220px-Delbert_Black_grave.jpg)
Upon retirement from active duty, Master Chief Black continued his involvement with the Navy through retired and active duty organizations. He was an active member of the USO Council of Central Florida; the Fleet Reserve Association; and Co-Chairman on the Secretary of Navy Committee on Retired Personnel. He died at his home in Winter Park, Florida from a heart attack at the age of 77. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Section 11, Site 496 LH.[1]
At a March 13 2015 ceremony at the Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C., Navy Secretary Ray Mabus and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (AW/NAC) Michael D. Stevens announced that an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, USS Delbert D. Black would honor Delbert Black.
Awards and decorations
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Navy Distinguished Service Medal (Master Chief Black was the first Navy enlisted man to receive this award.) |
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Navy Unit Commendation |
Navy Good Conduct Medal (with 6 service stars) | |
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China Service Medal |
American Defense Service Medal (with 1 campaign star) | |
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American Campaign Medal |
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (with 8 campaign stars) | |
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World War II Victory Medal |
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Navy Occupation Service Medal |
National Defense Service Medal (with 1 service star) | |
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Korean Service Medal |
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Antarctica Service Medal |
Vietnam Service Medal with service star | |
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Philippine Presidential Unit Citation |
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Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation |
Philippine Liberation Medal (with 2 service stars) | |
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United Nations Korea Medal |
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Vietnam Campaign Medal |
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Korean War Service Medal |
- 7 gold Service stripes.
References
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Use dmy dates from September 2011
- 1922 births
- 2000 deaths
- People from Love County, Oklahoma
- Master Chief Petty Officers of the United States Navy
- American military personnel of World War II
- United States Navy sailors
- Burials at Arlington National Cemetery
- Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal
- People from Winter Park, Florida