Thomas Darden
Encyclopedia
Thomas Francis Darden, Jr. (September 8, 1900 – June 17, 1961) was a U.S. Navy officer who achieved the rank of captain, the commander of a Navy light cruiser
during World War II
, and was the 37th Governor of American Samoa from July 7, 1949 through February 23, 1951. Darden also served on the staffs of two U.S. Navy admirals during the War in the Pacific
: rear admirals Henry Hughes Hough
and Thomas L. Sprague
.
Darden served on and commanded warships, and then in the 1940s was appointed head of the "Special Programs Unit". This unit trained African Americans for accelerated promotion in the Navy; Darden himself advocated for racial integration
in the Navy.
Darden also served as the last military governor of American Samoa
, and since February 1951, his successors have all been civilians.
in San Diego, California
.
and the flag secretary for Rear Admiral Henry Hughes Hough
. For a period of time following World War II, Darden served as an assistant to Chief of Naval Personnel
Rear Admiral Thomas L. Sprague
.
Darden took command of the destroyer
USS Benham (DD-397)
on February 2, 1939. Then, during the War in the Pacific,
Darden commanded the light cruiser
USS Denver (CL-58)
.
In the latter 1940s, Darden headed the "Special Programs Unit", a naval unit intended to address the continuing role of African Americans in the U.S. Navy
. Darden advocated integrating Black personnel into the U.S. Navy. He and fellow naval officers in the program developed a course to prepare African American enlisted men for promotion to the rank of Chief Petty Officer
. Many graduates of this program were given priority promotion, even when specific openings did not exist for them.
. Darden took office on July 7, 1949, succeeding Captain Vernon Huber
, and he left the office on February 23, 1951, to be succeeded by civilian governors from then on.
Light cruiser
A light cruiser is a type of small- or medium-sized warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light armored cruiser", describing a small ship that carried armor in the same way as an armored cruiser: a protective belt and deck...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and was the 37th Governor of American Samoa from July 7, 1949 through February 23, 1951. Darden also served on the staffs of two U.S. Navy admirals during the War in the Pacific
War In The Pacific
War in the Pacific is a 2004 two-player turn-based computer war game published by Matrix games. It is a very large, complex, and detailed simulation of the Pacific Theatre of World War II, at both the operational and strategic level....
: rear admirals Henry Hughes Hough
Henry Hughes Hough
Henry Hughes Hough was a Rear Admiral of the United States Navy and one-time military Governor of the United States Virgin Islands. He was born in the French overseas colony of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, off the coast of Newfoundland.Hough graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1891...
and Thomas L. Sprague
Thomas L. Sprague
Thomas Lamison Sprague was an vice admiral of the United States Navy, who served during World War II as commander of the aircraft carrier and took part in the battles of Guam, Leyte Gulf and Okinawa....
.
Darden served on and commanded warships, and then in the 1940s was appointed head of the "Special Programs Unit". This unit trained African Americans for accelerated promotion in the Navy; Darden himself advocated for racial integration
Racial integration
Racial integration, or simply integration includes desegregation . In addition to desegregation, integration includes goals such as leveling barriers to association, creating equal opportunity regardless of race, and the development of a culture that draws on diverse traditions, rather than merely...
in the Navy.
Darden also served as the last military governor of American Samoa
American Samoa
American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the sovereign state of Samoa...
, and since February 1951, his successors have all been civilians.
Life
Darden was born on September 18, 1900 in Brooklyn, New York. He died on June 17, 1961. He is buried at the Fort Rosecrans National CemeteryFort Rosecrans National Cemetery
Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery is situated in the city of San Diego, California, on the Fort Rosecrans Military Reservation. The cemetery is located approximately 10 miles west of downtown San Diego, overlooking the bay and the city...
in San Diego, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Naval career
While he was a lieutenant, Darden served as the aide-de-campAide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
and the flag secretary for Rear Admiral Henry Hughes Hough
Henry Hughes Hough
Henry Hughes Hough was a Rear Admiral of the United States Navy and one-time military Governor of the United States Virgin Islands. He was born in the French overseas colony of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, off the coast of Newfoundland.Hough graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1891...
. For a period of time following World War II, Darden served as an assistant to Chief of Naval Personnel
Chief of Naval Personnel
The Chief of Naval Personnel is responsible for overall manpower readiness for the United States Navy. The CNP also serves as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations and is one of four Deputy Chiefs of Naval Operations, with the identification of N1/NT...
Rear Admiral Thomas L. Sprague
Thomas L. Sprague
Thomas Lamison Sprague was an vice admiral of the United States Navy, who served during World War II as commander of the aircraft carrier and took part in the battles of Guam, Leyte Gulf and Okinawa....
.
Darden took command of the destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
USS Benham (DD-397)
USS Benham (DD-397)
USS Benham was the lead ship of the her class of destroyers and the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for Andrew Ellicot Kennedy Benham.-Construction:...
on February 2, 1939. Then, during the War in the Pacific,
Darden commanded the light cruiser
Light cruiser
A light cruiser is a type of small- or medium-sized warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light armored cruiser", describing a small ship that carried armor in the same way as an armored cruiser: a protective belt and deck...
USS Denver (CL-58)
USS Denver (CL-58)
USS Denver was a Cleveland-class light cruiser. Denver launched on 4 April 1942 by New York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, N.J.; sponsored by Miss L. J. Stapleton, daughter of the Mayor of Denver; and commissioned on 15 October 1942, Captain Robert Carney in command...
.
In the latter 1940s, Darden headed the "Special Programs Unit", a naval unit intended to address the continuing role of African Americans in the U.S. Navy
Military history of African Americans
The military history of African Americans spans from the arrival of the first black slaves during the colonial history of the United States to the present day...
. Darden advocated integrating Black personnel into the U.S. Navy. He and fellow naval officers in the program developed a course to prepare African American enlisted men for promotion to the rank of Chief Petty Officer
Chief Petty Officer
A chief petty officer is a senior non-commissioned officer in many navies and coast guards.-Canada:"Chief Petty Officer" refers to two ranks in the Canadian Navy...
. Many graduates of this program were given priority promotion, even when specific openings did not exist for them.
Governorship
Darden was the last military governor of American SamoaAmerican Samoa
American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the sovereign state of Samoa...
. Darden took office on July 7, 1949, succeeding Captain Vernon Huber
Vernon Huber
Vernon Huber was a United States Navy Rear admiral, and the 36th Governor of American Samoa from April 22, 1947 to June 15, 1949. He was born in Philadelphia, Illinois, and was appointed to the United States Naval Academy from that state. He served as the first commanding officer of the USS...
, and he left the office on February 23, 1951, to be succeeded by civilian governors from then on.