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Memorial for Carl Maxie Brashear
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Born in Kentucky
Departed on Jul. 25, 2006 and resided in Virginia Beach, VA.
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Friday, Jul. 28, 2006
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Saturday, Jul. 29, 2006
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Please click on the links above for locations, times, maps, and directions.
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Carl Maxie Brashear, 75, of Virginia Beach, VA, passed away on Tuesday, July 25, 2006, at Portsmouth Naval Hospital.
Born in Kentucky, Mr. Brashear was the son of the late MacDonald and Gonzella Brashear, and a member of Piney Grove Baptist Church.
He was a US Navy veteran of Korea and Vietnam where he retired as a Master Chief Boatswain’s Mate. The retired Master Chief became known throughout the world after actor Cuba Gooding, Jr. portrayed Brashear in the movie, “Men of Honor”.
Brashear joined the United States Navy in 1948 at the age of 17. He was a pioneer in the Navy as the first black deep sea diver, the first black Master Diver, and the first person in naval history to be restored to full active duty as an amputee, the result of a leg injury he sustained during a salvage operation.
He was the first amputee to advance to the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer. Brashear became the only amputee deep-sea diver to reach the status of master Diver and he was the only black man to ever become Master Diver of the United States Navy, a position he held from 1975 to 1977.
“Carl Brashear was a man of integrity. He was well-loved and admired by the hospital staff,” said NMCP Commander Rear Adm. Thomas Cullison. “It was an honor to provide the care this American hero. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family members.”
He is survived by three sons, Dawayne Brashear of Newark, NJ, Phillip M. Brashear and wife Sandra of Sandston, VA and Patrick S. Brashear and wife Gwen of Portsmouth, VA; three sisters, Florine Harris, Leatta English and Norma Jean Moore, all of Elizabethtown, KY; two brothers, Edward Ray Brashear of Indianapolis, IN and Douglas Brashear of Elizabethtown, KY; twelve grandchildren; and two great- grandchildren. He was predeceased by a son, Shazanta Brashear; and two brothers, Haskell and Leo Brashear.
A funeral service will be conducted at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Little Creek Amphibious Base Chapel with Elder Conley White officiating. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Bayside Chapel on Friday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. All non-military relatives and friends wishing to attend must register with the funeral home (757) 464-6221 by 2 p.m. on Friday in order to gain access to the Naval Base. Contibutions are being accepted at the Youth of Honor Foundation, Carl Brashear Memorial Fund - www.youthofhonor.org (mailing address: Carl Brashear Memorial Fund, 1274 Minhinette Drive, Roswell, GA 30075 (checks payable to Youth of Honor Foundation, memo: Carl Brashear Fund)). Condolences may be offered to the family at www.hollomon-brown.com.
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