Navy to christen ship today honoring diver Carl Brashear

Navy master diver Carl M. Brashear, whose groundbreaking exploits were featured in the movie "Men of Honor" starring Cuba Gooding Jr., will be honored this week when the Navy christens a ship in his name.

The dry cargo/ammunition ship Carl Brashear will be launched today at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego, according to the Navy.

Brashear was one of the first black sailors to graduate from the Navy Diving School and was to qualify and serve as a master diver while on active duty. After losing a leg during a salvage operation, he also became the first Navy diver to be restored to full active duty as an amputee.

Brashear served in Korea and Vietnam, retiring as a master chief after 31 years of service in 1979. He died in 2006 at Portsmouth Naval Medical Center.

The chief of naval operations, Adm. Gary Roughead, and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Joe R. Campa Jr. will speak at the ceremony. Brashear's granddaughter, Lauren Brashear, will serve as the ship's sponsor, breaking a bottle of champagne across its bow.

The ship will deliver ammunition, food, fuel, and other dry cargo to ships at sea. It is designed to operate independently for extended periods and can carry two helicopters.

As part of Military Sealift Command's Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force, it will carry a crew of 124 civil service mariners, a military detachment of 11 sailors and, when needed, a helicopter detachment of up to 36 service members.