Thanks to F15 Eagle for the ping to this special thread:
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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1672340/posts
"Inspiration for 'Men of Honor' dies - Carl Brashear was first black U.S. Navy diver"
CNN.Com - U.S. ^ | Tuesday, July 25, 2006; Posted: 9:20 p.m. EDT (01:20 GMT) | AP
Posted on 07/25/2006 9:51:55 PM PDT by F15Eagle
ARTICLE SNIPPET: "RICHMOND, Virginia (AP) -- Carl M. Brashear, the first black U.S. Navy diver who was portrayed by Cuba Gooding Jr. in the 2000 film "Men of Honor," died Tuesday. He was 75.
Brashear died at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth of respiratory and heart failure, the medical center said.
Brashear retired from the Navy in 1979 after more than 30 years of service. He was the first Navy diver to be restored to full active duty as an amputee, the result of a leg injury he sustained during a salvage operation."
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1672318/posts
"Video Diary of Evacuation from Beirut (Rebel_Yell2), USSGONZALES
Rebel_Yell2 | July 25, 2006 | Rebel_Yell2 (with Freeper help)"
Posted on 07/25/2006 8:51:06 PM PDT by rebel_yell2