At rest: Master Diver Carl Brashear

Taps for Master Diver Carl Brashear:

Brashear’s son Phillip, a Chief Warrant Officer 4 in the U.S. Army, who returned from service in Iraq on emergency leave to be at his father’s bedside when he passed away, spoke candidly about his father’s courage and character.

“He taught people world-wide that your race, your gender, your religion, none of that makes any difference,” said Phillip. “You can achieve your goals, you can be held accountable to your characteristics as a person not by the color of your skin.

I had the pleasure of meeting Master Chief Brashear in Norfolk a few years ago when I was up there on Navy business.

I was wandering through the Navy Exchange looking at clothes when I was approached by a man who told me that he was looking for a suit that he could wear to the premiere of a movie that they had made about his life and asked my opinion about the choices at the Exchange. He introduced himself and even gave me a business card. We had a nice long conversation. We discussed a few divers we both knew and left on my promise to keep an eye out for his movie.

His story, as his son says, should be a lesson to all of us. My short discussion with him left me impressed with his quiet confidence.

A brush with greatness.

Rest in peace, Master Chief.