From the June 3, 2012, Fayetteville (NC) Observer "Black sailor who refused to be held back made a difference aboard the USS North Carolina during World War II" by April Dudash.
John Seagraves worked his way up from a cook in the officers' mess to 20 mm gunner on the battleship USS North Carolina.
He joined the Navy in 1943, a week before his 17th birthday and went to Jacksonville, Florida, for boot camp where the barracks and chow hall were segregated. His white petty officer didn't want to train blacks, but as the weeks of training went by, he changed his mind. Upon graduation, Seagraves was assigned to the Stewards' Branch, a group of black sailors assigned to serve white officers.
He was sent to the USS North Carolina.
--GreGen
The USS North Carolina (BB-55) My all-time favorite warship. As an elementary school student in North Carolina, I donated nickels and dimes to save this ship back in the early sixties.
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