On A Pale Horse

I've never really understood Cuba Gooding Jr. At times he seems like a complete boob by picking roles like Boat Trip, Rat Race, & Snow Dogs then turns around and appears to be a real intelligent funny actor that picks roles in flicks like As Good As It Gets, Boyz in the Hood & Radio. But I guess there is something to be said about making millions doing commercial crap and justifying the soul with low paying serious roles. The real mystery to me is why he got an Oscar for Jerry Maguire rather then for his portry of Master Chief Petty Officer Carl Brashear in the movie Men of Honor.

Carl Brashear enlisted with the US Navy in 1948 shortly after the desegration was instituted but not fully grasped. But he worked his way through the diving program and became the first black certified diver in 1951. In 1966, while on a mission to recover an unexploded hydrogen bomb a towing line broke and hit his lower right leg nearly severing it. Doctors tried to repair the damage but the leg was ultimately amputated. His career in the Navy was an up hill battle from day one and this obstacle wasn't going to get in Brashears way either. He continued to train and battle through pain and discomfort to become the first amputee diver in 1968 and the first black Master Diver in 1971. He retired from the Navy in 1979 and continued a career with the government until his final retirement.

He passed away from respritory and heart failure.

January 19, 1931 - July 25, 2006 - RIP

Labels: 1931 births, 2006 July deaths, heart failure, military, pioneer

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