VIRGINIA BEACH -- The first African-American to become a Navy master diver was honored Monday at the base where he spent most of his career.
A ceremony recognizing the late Master Chief Carl Brashear took place at JointExpeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story in the building that bears his name - Brashear Catering and Conference Center.
In 1998, he became one of only seven enlisted men to be enshrined in the naval archives.
Brashear's life story was turned into a Hollywood film Men of Honor, starring Cuba Gooding Junior.
Brashear died of respiratory and heart failure at Naval Medical Center-Portsmouth on July 25, 2006.
Attending the ceremony was former Virginia Governor L. Douglas Wilder and Fleet Forces Commander John Harvey.
The Carl Brashear Foundation, created by his sons Philip and Dawayne, sponsored the event and made a $1,000 contribution to the Hampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
