Real-life hero of movie 'Men of Honor' to speak

File Photo

Cuba Gooding Jr. portrayed Carl Brashear (left) in Men of Honor. Brashear will speak Thursday Feb. 22 at 12:20 p.m at the Bishop Joseph Johnson Black Cultural Center

Carl Brashear, the first African-American master diver in the United States Navy, will be at Vanderbilt Thursday, Feb. 22 for a day-long series of events including a luncheon with students, a formal lecture and discussion, and screening of the movie Men of Honor, a film based on Brashear's life.

The formal lecture and discussion are planned at 7 p.m. in Sarratt Cinema, during which Brashear will recount his life story and the experience of seeing it transformed into a major motion picture. This event is free. Organizers recommend viewing the film prior to the lecture. Men of Honor will be shown at Sarratt at 9 p.m. Feb. 15, 16 and 18; following the lecture; and at 7 p.m. for the two days following the lecture.

Brashear joined the Navy at age 17 in 1948 -- the same year the U.S. military was desegregated. He started off confined to the galley, but soon committed himself to becoming a deep-sea diver, a profession unheard for a black sailor at the time. His life is a true testimony to sheer determination and perseverance under trials and tribulations. Even after Brashear lost his leg during a nuclear warhead recovery in 1966, he convinced the Navy he was still capable of duty.

Brashear's visit is co-sponsored by Sarratt Film Committee, Bishop Johnson Black Cultural Center, International Student and Scholar Services, the Organization of Black Graduate and Professional Students, and Vanderbilt Naval T.O.T.C.

Note: A similar item appeared in last week's issue of the Register with incomplete information