Washington, D.C. native, retired Rear Admiral Larry Chambers, is to be honored by the United States Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation on March 23, 2018.

Chambers (Class of 1952) whose biography was recently published, is to receive the Distinguished Graduate Award, in honor of U.S. Naval Academy graduates who have demonstrated a lifetime commitment to service, personal character and distinguished contributions to our nation. According to his biographer Ric Murphy,  Chambers was the first American of African descent in command of a Navy combat ship; the first to command an aircraft carrier; and was among the first to attend and graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy.

On April 29, 1975, during the Fall of Saigon, as commanding officer of the USS Midway, Chambers helped rescue thousands of American and South Vietnamese citizens, and foreign nationals in the mission known as Operation Frequent Wind. Over a two-day period, as the North Vietnamese military entered the city during the final days of the Vietnam War,  the operation  became  the largest helicopter evacuation in history, where evacuees were airlifted to the USS Midway and other aircraft carriers waiting at sea. As a direct result of his military skill and leadership, Chambers famously ordered several UH-1 helicopters pushed overboard to make room for an escaping South Vietnamese Air Force pilot, Major Bung Ly, saving his life and that of his family. For more information.