Delbert D. Black (11 July 1922 – 5 March 2000) was a senior sailor in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

who served as the first Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy from 13 January 1967 to 1 April 1971.

Early life and family

Black was born in Orr, Oklahoma, graduating from high school in 1940. He enlisted in the

on 14 March 1941. Delbert "Del" Black was married to Irma Black for 50 years and had a son Donny D. Black. Grandfather to Dylan and Nathan Black.

Naval career

Upon completion of recruit training in

San Diego San Diego ( , ; ) is a city on the Pacific Ocean coast of Southern California located immediately adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a 2020 population of 1,386,932, it is the eighth most populous city in the United States ...

, Black was assigned to the and was aboard during the attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. He later served at Receiving Station, Pearl Harbor; ; Naval Air Base Samar,

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

; , ; ; U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard, Washington, D.C.; Yokosuka, Japan ship repair facilities; ; ; ; Recruiting Duty, Columbia, Tennessee; ; ; and Fleet Anti-Air Warfare Training Center (FAAWTC),

Dam Neck, Virginia A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface water or underground streams. Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also provide water for activities such as irrigation, human consumption, industrial use, ...

. During his career, he advanced from striking for the rate of

Gunner's Mate The United States Navy and United States Coast Guard occupational rating of gunner's mate (GM) is a designation given by the Bureau of Naval Personnel (BUPERS) to enlisted sailors who either satisfactorily complete initial Gunner's Mate "A" scho ...

to the rank of Master Chief.

Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy

On 13 January 1967, the

Secretary of the Navy The secretary of the Navy (or SECNAV) is a statutory officer () and the head (chief executive officer) of the Department of the Navy, a military department (component organization) within the United States Department of Defense. By law, the se ...

announced the appointment of Master Chief Gunner's Mate (GMCM) Black as the first Senior Enlisted Advisor, the position that would evolve into Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy. As such, he was the highest rated enlisted man in the United States Navy, serving as the enlisted representative to the Chief of Naval Operations. His function was to counsel the highest ranks of the Navy on issues associated with enlisted guidance, leadership, and policy. Black was the first enlisted man to write a foreword for ''

The Bluejacket's Manual ''The Bluejacket's Manual'' is the basic handbook for United States Navy personnel. First issued in 1902 to teach recruits about naval procedures and life and offer a reference for active sailors, it has become the "bible" for Navy personnel, pr ...

''.

Retirement and later work

Upon retirement from active duty, Black continued his involvement with the Navy through retired and active duty organizations. He was an active member of the

USO The United Service Organizations Inc. (USO) is an American nonprofit-charitable corporation that provides live entertainment, such as comedians, actors and musicians, social facilities, and other programs to members of the United States Armed F ...

Council of Central Florida; the Fleet Reserve Association; and Co-Chairman on the Secretary of Navy Committee on Retired Personnel. He died at his home in Winter Park, Florida from a heart attack at the age of 77. He is buried in

Arlington National Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery is one of two national cemeteries run by the United States Army. Nearly 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington, Virginia. There are about 30 funerals conducted on weekdays and 7 held on Sa ...

, Section 11, Site 496 LH. At a 13 March 2015 ceremony at the Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C., Navy Secretary

Ray Mabus Raymond Edwin Mabus Jr. (; born October 11, 1948) is an American politician and lawyer. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 75th United States Secretary of the Navy from 2009 to 2017. Mabus previously served as the State Auditor ...

and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (AW/NAC)

Michael D. Stevens Michael D. Stevens is a United States Navy sailor who served as Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON). He became the 13th MCPON on September 28, 2012, when he accepted the passing of the ceremonial cutlass from outgoing MCPON Rick D. West ...

announced that an

Arleigh Burke-class destroyer The ''Arleigh Burke'' class of guided-missile destroyers (DDGs) is a United States Navy class of destroyer built around the Aegis Combat System and the SPY-1D multi-function passive electronically scanned array radar. The class is named for ...

, '' USS Delbert D. Black'', would honor Delbert Black.

Awards and decorations

* 7 gold Service stripes.

References

External links

Biography

{{DEFAULTSORT:Black, Delbert 1922 births 2000 deaths People from Love County, Oklahoma Master Chief Petty Officers of the United States Navy United States Navy personnel of World War II Burials at Arlington National Cemetery Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal People from Winter Park, Florida United States Navy personnel of the Korean War United States Navy personnel of the Vietnam War