Editorial Discrimination: The Norfolk Seabag and African American Mess Attendants

By Elijah Palmer
Hampton Roads Naval Museum Educator

Although many African Americans had served in the military during World War I, the Navy decreased the number of black Sailors in the years following the Armistice. By the early 1930s, there were not many left. But in 1933, the Navy started accepting new African American recruits into the Mess Attendant School at Norfolk. It should be remembered that other rates were closed to black sailors at this time.

Historical marker on Naval Station Norfolk (image from www.markerhistory.com)

In many ways, the Navy mirrored American society. Segregation and institutional racism towards African American Sailors can be seen by examining the pages of The Norfolk Seabag, the naval station's official newspaper.  Much coverage was aimed at new recruits and shared advice, events, and jokes. In this vein, the paper highlighted "honor men" almost every week, sharing names and biographical information (hometown, etc.). Starting in the mid-1930s, most issues included some pictures of the Sailors being mentioned. However, it was not until 1938 that the Seabag mentioned any mess attendant trainees from K-West or B-East. To make matters worse,  the paper did not include any pictures of the black Sailors chosen to be honor men, even while the number of pictures of white sailors increased.

While the Seabag did not present pictures of any African American honor men, the editors found it fitting to include this caricature of a mess attendant as decoration for one of the holiday menus. Clearly at least some viewed Sailors of color as only fitting into this stereotype.

The first picture of an African American sailor found in issues of the Seabag from 1934-1942 was on page four of the November 28, 1942 issue.  The story that went with it was about a young recruit who had walked 224 miles (over four trips) to enlist after being turned away several times. Although it was a tale of patriotism and perseverance, the writer was also patronizing in the way he overemphasized the young recruit's dialect.

In 1942, the Mess Attendant School was moved from Norfolk.  That same year, more ratings were opened up to African American Sailors.  Part of this shift was likely influenced by national recognition of two famous graduates of the mess attendant school at Norfolk, Dorie Miller and Leonard Harmon.  They were honored for their heroism at Pearl Harbor and Guadalcanal, respectively. Navy ships were later named after both of them.

The Mess Attendant School was an important part of naval history in Norfolk.  The slights received from the Seabag were indicative of some of the challenges that black sailors encountered during that era.  While the situation for African Americans gradually improved during World War II, there was still segregation and other problems, just as in most of American society.  As painful and shameful as some of this history appears, it is crucial that we remember and continue to tell these stories so that we do not forget.

Signs of Segregation at Naval Station Norfolk

By Katherine A. Renfrew 
Hampton Roads Naval Museum Registrar

COLORED and WHITE signs were a common sight across the southern landscape during the early 20^th century.  Prominently displayed in storefront windows, waiting rooms and public accommodations, these signs were a physical reminder of racial segregation in American society.  State and local laws known as Jim Crow laws governed how African–Americans and white people interacted with each other.   The premise “equal, but separate” was in no way “equal."

 
The United States military was no exception as evidenced in these two images of comfort stations located on Naval Station Norfolk during the 1920s.  These were most likely used by civilian employees working on the base.  It wasn’t until 1948 that President Harry Truman signed Executive Order 9981 eliminating segregation and ordering full integration in the armed forces. The order declared that "there shall be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed forces without regard to race, color, religion, or national origin."  Despite the order, it took another dozen or so years before the military was completely desegregated.




TOP: Comfort Station looking at the east side and north end of Building 20, located in Unit E, Naval Station Norfolk (NSN), May 8, 1922.  ABOVE: Closer views of the signs.

(National Archives and Records Administration

NS-Norfolk-1922-17 (RG 71-CA, Box 323, Folder A)

TOP: Another Comfort Station looking at the east side and north end, Building 10, Unit O, NSN, August 2, 1922. ABOVE: A closer view of the most legible sign.

(National Archives and Records Administration

NS-Norfolk-1922-44 (RG 71-CA, Box 323, Folder C)

This brief history of the comfort stations, Naval Station Norfolk, is the third in a series of blog posts illustrating the development of the facility.  Unless otherwise noted, the photographs in this series represent the results of a research project seeking images of Hampton Roads naval installations at the National Archives and Records Administration.  This research, performed by the Southeastern Archaeological Research, Incorporated (SEARCH) was funded by Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic (CNRMA), as part of an ongoing effort to provide information on historic architectural resources at Navy bases in Hampton Roads.  The museum is pleased to present these images for the benefit of the general public and interested researchers.  As far as we know, all of these images are in the public domain and none of them have been published before.

Brick-By-Brick 2016: The Winners

The entrants' creations for this year's contest were no less varied than those of real vessels taking to the sea from Hampton Roads.  For example, the cruise ship passengers (left) lining the rails of  Jett Starcher's entry could have appeared at the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center in downtown Norfolk (coincidentally where the event was held), while the two Sailors (right) aboard their MK V Special Operations Craft by Joseph Joiner are an everyday sight at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story. (Photo by M.C. Farrington)

On Saturday, 2,079 visitors attended Hampton Roads Naval Museum's Fifth Annual "Brick by Brick: LEGO Shipbuilding" event at the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center in Downtown Norfolk.  Over 100 of them entered their ships into the event's shipbuilding contest, which was divided by age classes and by where the models were created.  If the models were made outside the museum using parts provided by the builder, they were judged in the "Home Built" section, while models made between 10 am and 2 pm (the judging deadline) at the event with parts provided by the museum were judged in the "Museum-Made" section.

Category: Home Built

Fan Favorite:

"Brick of the Sea" by Jett Starcher.

After the judging on Saturday, February 6, Jett Starcher begins preparing his entry, dubbed Brick of the Sea, for transport.  According to Starcher, about 200 hours of work went into the model cruise ship, which was constructed not only with a fully detailed bridge and pool deck, but also with ten interior compartments, including a galley and dining room, gym, movie theater, several staterooms, and an engine room. (Photo by M.C. Farrington).  

Ages 4-6:

Rex and Geoffrey K's model of RMS Titanic looms over the works of other entrants in the four to six year-olds division of the shipbuilding contest (Photo by M.C. Farrington)

                1^st place: "Titanic," by Rex & Geoffrey K.

                2^nd place: "SS Aurora," by Edward B.



As HRNM Volunteer Coordinator Tom Dandes (left) assists William Bassett in preparing the Lego ship Aurora for transport home, his son Edward reacts to his win. (Photo by M.C. Farrington).  

Ages 7-9:

"Noah's Ark" by William S. (Photo by M.C. Farrington).  

                1^st place: "Noah's Ark," by William S.

                2^nd place: "USS Enterprise," by Keith S.


Ages 10-12:

"Blue Mist" by Luke L. (Photo by M.C. Farrington).  

                1^st place: "Blue Mist," by Luke L.

                2^nd place: "Tonto," by Bow C.

Ages 13-16:

A highly-detailed scale Vietnam-era riverine Command and Communications Boat (CCB) took first place for the 13-16 year-old division. (Photo by M.C. Farrington).  

                1^st place: "CCB Monitor," by Jack K.

                2^nd place: "Skidbadnir," by Nathan C.

Ages 17+:

Another highly-detailed historical model rendered with Legos was this winning Civil War-era diorama by Mark Anderson. (Photo by Diana Gordon)



                1^st place: "Merrimac at Gosport Navy Yard," by Mark Anderson.

                2^nd place: "HM Brig Sophie," by Jack Beute

Category: Museum-Made

Fan Favorite:

"Fisherman's Speed Boat"

Ages 4-6:

                1^st place: "Puller Ship," by Conner B.

                2^nd place: "USA Battleship," by Zac O.

Ages 7-9:

                1^st place: "USS Strouss," by Tristan S.

                2^nd place: "USS Emerson," by Emerson D.

Ages 10-12:

                1^st place: "JC Coast Guard," by Caroline P.

                2^nd place: "USS Virginia 2060"

 Ages 13-16:

                1^st place: "Voyage," by Hode.

                2^nd place: "USS Massachusetts," by Scott E.



Ages 17+:

                1^st place: "USS Dove," by Grace A.
                2^nd place: "Underwater Drone," by Cardell A.

CONGRATULATIONS to all the winners! 

If there are any questions about them or for any other questions relating to the contest, please call Special Events Coordinator Don Darcy at (757) 322-3168.

Filthy Sailors Make for Poor Shipmates: The US Navy and Personal Hygiene

By Joseph Miechle
Hampton Roads Naval Museum Educator

Sailors washing clothes on laundry day in the early 1900s. 

For those who have spent any time in the service, you most likely have had personal experience with or have heard about the "dirty shipmate," or one who seemed to think bathing was optional. To those without this experience, it may only seem like a minor inconvenience. However, in tight quarters aboard ship, nobody wants to deal with another person's lack of hygiene. The threat of spreading infectious disease related to poor hygiene is very real, not to mention the pungent aromatics. Sailors during the American Civil War had much the same experiences that still trouble our sailors today. How the crew of the USS Flambeau dealt with an "offending shipmate" may have been slightly different than in today's Navy.

*Note* For ease of reading, punctuation and grammar have been changed, but original spelling has been preserved.

From the diary of Walter Jones, USS Flambeau, off the coast of Florida or Georgia, September 15, 1863:
         One of our recruits don’t seem to realize that he must keep himself clean. In fact he is so lousey that the men sleeping next to him have made a complaint to Jimmy Leggs, who made an examination and found that not only his head was inhabeted[sic] but also his clothing. The matter was referred to the 1st Leut. who gave the order to have him scrubbed and his clothing thrown overboard. Accordingly the victim was taken to the lee scuppers where the ship’s barber cut his hair close to his head. He was ordered to remove all his clothing, which was thrown over the side. Next two [illegible] cooks armed with scrub brushes, soap, and sand under the direction of Jimmy Leggs proceeded as they said to give him a Russian Bath. And such a scrubbing as he received he will probabbally never forget. After Jimmy had pronounced him clean the head pump was [illegible] on him to rinse him off and his appearance was certainly improved. New clothing was given him for which he will be charged. After he had dressed he was given a lecture by Jimmy, telling him of the benefits of cleanliness, and also cautioning him to keep himself clean in the future, as the next time he would be Holy Stoned. It will be a long time if ever that he will have the respect of the ship’s Co. He will ever be known all out as the man that was scrubbed. Double fines, court martial, triceing up has not the terors[sic] to the average sailor that a scrubbing has.

Jones manuscript courtesy the Mariners' Museum, Newport News, Virginia.

*Special thanks to HRNM Educator Elijah Palmer for transcription assistance.