Proudly we served : the men of the USS Mason

Overview: Few Americans know the history-changing story of the USS Mason, a World War II warship manned by an African-American crew that served as a role model for the integration of U.S. Navy ships. At a time when most blacks in the Navy were relegated to mess duties, the crew of the USS Mason escorted six convoys across the perilous North Atlantic, from the weeks leading up the D-Day invasions until V-E day in 1945. As part of the so-called Hunter-Killer groups that defeated the German U-boats, they helped win the Battle of the Atlantic. Proudly We Served: The Men of the USS Mason tells the story of these brave men and their contributions to the Allied victory. Their success had a direct impact on President Harry S. Truman’s decision to integrate all of America’s armed forces after the war. Recommended in 1944 for a commendation for their heroic actions during a violent storm, the Mason sailors finally received that commendation in 1995, after the publication of this book in hardcover and the release of a companion documentary. The men and ship have been further honored by the Navy’s decision to name a new destroyer (DDG 87) after the Mason and propagate its proud heritage into the twenty-first century. At a time when most black American sailors were relegated to service as cooks and waiters, the African-American crew of the USS Mason made history by escorting six convoys across the Atlantic, performing all the duties of seamanship needed to take a warship into combat. This is the story of their experiences as part of the U.S. Navy's tentative moves toward racial integration in the enlisted ranks during the war. It is a collective memoir, compiled by best-selling author and Emmy-nominated filmmaker Mary Pat Kelly from extensive interviews with surviving crew members and new research in Navy records made public for the first time. Never before has the story of the Mason been told from the crew's point of view. They recall incidents of prejudice exhibited by other ships' crews and discrimination at most port calls, but mostly their story is a positive one that focuses on their highly successful shipboard experiences. They mastered all rates and skills, moving at accelerated paces from lowest to highest enlisted ranks, and proved they could perform combat duties as well as or better than white sailors. . In October 1944, during a fierce storm in the North Atlantic, they shepherded some twenty vessels to safety despite serious damage to their own ship. With the storm still raging, the crew braved forty-foot waves to weld together open seams in the Mason's deck and to make other dangerous repairs before persisting in rejoining the convoy, while similar escorts sought out the safety of port. These actions earned the respect of many and the recommendation that a Letter of Commendation be included in each man's file - a recommendation that was not acted upon. The men's candid comments about race relations both in the wartime Navy and American society at large contribute significantly to the social history of the United States as well as to the history of the U.S. Navy. A documentary on the men of the Mason has also been produced by the author for public television. Few Americans know the history-changing story of the men of the USS Mason , the only African-American sailors to take a World War II warship into combat. At a time when most blacks in the Navy were relegated to stewards or laborers, the crew of the USS Mason escorted six convoys across the perilous North Atlantic, helped to win the Battle of the Atlantic and directly influenced President Harry S. Truman's decision to integrate all of America's armed forces. Recommended in 1944 for a commendation for their heroic actions during a violent storm, the Mason sailors finally received that commendation in 1995. The Navy further honored the men by naming a new destroyer (DDG 87) after the crew of the Mason . This book is the basis of an award-winning PBS documentary and the feature film Proud starring Ossie Davis. The USS Mason story is featured in The National Museum of African American History and Culture.