He<span> was a Messman Third Class that the </span>United States Navy<span> noted for his bravery during the </span>attack on Pearl Harbor<span> on December 7, 1941. He was the first </span>African American<span> to be awarded the </span>Navy Cross<span>, the third highest honor awarded by the U.S. Navy at the time, after the </span>Medal of Honor<span> and the </span>Navy Distinguished Service Medal<span>.</span>
