Upcoming USS MASON article.

1. series | part 2
USS Mason
(DE 529) crew
members look
proudly at
their ship while
moored at the
Boston Navy
Yard in Boston,
Mass., March
20, 1944.
The Mason was
an Evarts-class
destroyer escort
during World
War II. It was
commissioned
on March 20,
1944 and de-
commissioned
on Oct. 12,
1945.
U.S. Navy archive photo
Exhibit offers insight
into African American
WWII Sailors
Mason legacy It is vital that we take time and be
lives on through acquainted with these great men and
DDG-87
draw further inspiration, motivation
The story of the USS Mason
(DE 529), a World War II
and dedication from their example.”
Evarts-class destroyer escort, Courtesy of CMDCM Raymond D. Kemp, USS Mason (DDG 87)
offers a detailed look into naval - Command Master Chief Raymond D. Kemp Signalman 2nd Class Lorenzo DuFau (left) speaks with several crew members from USS Mason (DDG
history and its heroic crew. 87) after a showing of the movie “Proud.” His powerful words of endurance, perseverance, honor, duty
and service to the country made a lasting impression on the Sailors.
Hailed as the nation’s first ship
manned by a predominantly of the USS Mason. oism through a family friend –
black enlisted crew, the ship “Of course there are many how exhilarating!” are certainly much more di-
and her crew were often put other portions of ESWS, but Kemp arranged for some verse at every level.”
to the test, tasked with inter- that heritage piece, they have of his crew members from Although technology has
cepting and decoding German to know,” said Kemp. “When DDG-87 to go to a film festi- advanced significantly through
U-boat messages and escort- Sailors check onboard the ship, val in Jersey City, N. J. where the years, the men of the
ing supply convoys across the they go through indoctrina- “Proud” was being reviewed. Mason held jobs very similar
Atlantic, all the while having tion – indoctrination is part There, some of the crew mem- to today’s Navy.
to overcome the constraints of of the ‘Brilliant on the Basis’ bers had the distinct honor of “In those days, they didn’t
segregation and racism of the program, so every Sailor has meeting DuFau and listened to have sonar technicians at the
time. a sponsor and they go through his stories first-hand. level of ours, but they did have
Although Mason’s crew had indoctrination when they first “A few of the Sailors were radiomen, which are now IT’s
definite highs and lows during come to the ship – part of our in tears, due to the powerful (information systems techni-
the 19 months of active service, indoctrination, (Sailors) watch words of endurance, persever- cians), they had OS’s (opera-
the overall experience was pos- the movie ‘Proud,’ which is ance, honor, duty and service tions specialists), and signal-
itive and they helped pave the about DE-529. That’s how we to our country,” explained men, which are quartermasters
way for equality in the Armed integrate those two together for Kemp. “He made quite an im- now,” explained Kemp. “So, a
Forces. The crew mastered all every member of the ship.” pression and his words had an lot of those ratings we do still
rates and skills, moving at ac- The movie “Proud,” revolves impact on my Sailors and me.” have.”
celerated paces from the lowest around the recalled story of Many of these jobs and ex-
to highest enlisted ranks, and Signalman 2nd Class Lorenzo Mason gets her first crew periences were documented
proved that they could perform DuFau, played by actor Ossie in the Norfolk-based Journal
duties just as well, and some- Davis, and the inspirational The first crew of the Mason and Guide, currently on ex-
times better, than their white tale of USS Mason’s (DE 529) began their military service by hibit through the end of Feb-
counterparts. A task that many predominately black crew going to boot camp at Camp ruary at the Newsome House
thought would be a failure. during World War II. Most im- Robert Smalls in Great Lakes, Museum and Cultural Center
The legacy of DE-529 lives portantly, the movie stands as Ill. The camp was named for in Newport News. The exhibit
on today through the current a historical look back in time Robert Smalls, a hero of the is called “Black Pride At Sea:
crew of USS Mason (DDG during the 40s and how these American Civil War who The Men of the USS Mason.”
87), an Arleigh Burke-class de- brave Sailors overcame occu- commandeered a Confederate “The exhibit itself, I think,
stroyer, homeported Norfolk. pational struggles, racism and freighter and navigated it skill- for Sailors to see some of the New Journal and Guide archive photo
The ship’s motto is, “Proudly a storm that nearly pushed the fully to the North. It is said that personal stories of the Sailors A clipping from the Journal and Guide, featuring the writing and photos
We Serve,” a symbolic nod ship to its structural limits. In many of the crew members who were on DE-529, there’s of Thomas Young, a war correspondent aboard USS Mason (DE 529.)
to the Sailors of DE-529 who the end, the Mason crew was found disappointment in boot always value in what we would
sailed and made history in the heroic and proved they could camp because the facility was call ‘sea stories,’” said Kemp.
defense of our country. stand toe-to-toe alongside their segregated due to the Jim Crow “There is always a value in “All of us should be aware of ■ the museum
“I’m responsible for the peers of all races and back- laws of the time. Jim Crow seeing the official report of this great meritocracy, in which
The Newsome House
ESWS (Enlisted Surface War- grounds. laws were state and local laws what that crew was doing. I we serve, was earned by Sail-
Museum and Cultural
fare Specialist) program, and Kemp had the honor of in the U.S., enacted between would say that, what Sailors ors like SM2 DuFau and his
through the program it is re- meeting DuFau for the first 1876 and 1965, that mandated would get – especially Mason shipmates – their courageous Center is located
quired that (Sailors) know time in October of 2011. Un- “separate, but equal” facilities Sailors, but any Sailor, black efforts paved a way for integra- at 2803 Oak Ave. in
the history of the ship and the beknownst to him, DuFau is for black Americans. or white – a sense of our heri- tion of all ratings, career fields Newport News, and
namesake of the ship,” said actually the uncle of one of his “DE-529 was actually set up tage to see from whence we’ve and warfare areas,” said Kemp. is open to the public
Command Master Chief Ray- close friends. as a ‘social experiment,’ in fact come and to see the personal “It is vital that we take time and Thurs. - Sat. from 10
mond D. Kemp, USS Mason “Interestingly, one of my it was often times referred to as stories that (emotionally) attach be acquainted with these great a.m. to 5 p.m. (Mon. -
(DDG 87). “DE-529 was friends told me about her uncle ‘Eleanor’s Folly,’” said Kemp. you to those crew members.” men and draw further inspira- Wed. by appointment
named for Ens. Newton Henry who had served in the Navy “Socially, America was just in Black History Month is an tion, motivation and dedication only).
Mason, who died in World and was in some of the U-boat a different place and once that opportunity to remember and from their example. ‘Proudly
War II, and he was the distant battles in World War II,” said ‘experiment’ was found to be celebrate the accomplishments We Serve!’” The exhibit is free,
cousin of John Y. Mason, who Kemp. “Years later, I realized a very positive one, more inte- of African American’s through- Next week we will conclude
with suggested adult
was the former secretary of the her uncle was SM2 Lorenzo gration followed. Now, our di- out history and the positive the series and take a final look
donation of $2. For
Navy.” DuFau. I was super excited versity is from the command- impact they have had towards at the crew of the USS Mason
As a part of ESWS qualifi- when I got orders to the Mason er-in-chief to every seaman, America’s success. It’s also a (DE 529) and the roll journal- more information, call
cations, Sailors are required to and when I found out I was airman, fireman that’s allowed great opportunity to honor the ism played in documenting 246-2360, or visit www.
know the history and heritage connected to this legacy of her- to come into the Navy. So, we fearless men of DE-529. their historical presence. newsomehouse.org.