July 29, 2006
Members from Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Honor Guard, carry the casket of retired Master Chief Boatswains Mate (Master Diver) Carl M. Brashear into the base Chapel aboard Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Va., July 29. In May 1966, Brashear had the lower part of his left leg medically removed after suffering an accident at sea. After almost two years of rehabilitation, Master Chief Brashear became the first amputee to be certified as a U.S. Navy diver. Later in 1970 Master Chief Brashear was the first African American to become a U.S. Navy Master Diver. Brashear died from heart and respiratory failure at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Va., July 25, at the age of 75. Brashear's life was documented in the movie "Men of Honor" starring Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Robert DeNiro.