I Am Black Military History

This Black History Month, I presented a tutorial on my military history for the Geriatric Pilots Association, “How to Avoid Sea Duty 101.” Many chuckled in the audience and questioned, "How can someone be in the Navy and avoid sea duty?" Well that day, class was in session! Being in the U.S. Navy, I can honestly say I had such a unique experience by NOT being stationed on a ship, but I served at some really fascinating duty stations alongside some interesting people. Fun fact: Did you know that 20-30% of sailors DO NOT end up being stationed on a ship due to their rates and lengths of service? 

This presentation was very special to me because not only did I get to share my story, but I got to share Black military history and the legacy of my family’s service to this country dating all the way back to the Civil War and continuing on to World War 2. I come from a great line of those who were voluntarily selfless that made legendary impacts in U.S. history and in the small corners of Western New York.

First up, we have my maternal great-great-great grandfather, John Sylvester Peterson. He was a musician and infantryman during the Civil War in 1863-1864. He was one of very few freedmen out of Friendship, N.Y. that owned farmland. He joined the Union Army out of Massachusetts because New York was not enlisting African Americans. He fought at Baylor’s Farm and Siege of Petersburg, VA. He died after an undisclosed combat illness and is buried in Arlington, VA. For more information on his legacy, visit an article by Olean Times Herald here, as he and my family were honored in 2015.

Next up, we have my maternal grandfather, Serell Santee Gayton (1920-1999) who fought during World War II in 1946. Originally from Portville, NY and settled in Olean, NY. He was an automobile mechanic and a sniper in Germany in the U.S. Army. He enjoyed hunting and fixing cars even well out of the U.S. Army. I was able to recover his WD AGO Form 53-55 which is now the present day DD 214 that covered his service, severance pay, thumb print, and honorable discharge paperwork.

Then there’s me with my unique Navy career. I never was stationed on a ship, BUT I got to be stationed with almost all branches (the Space Force wasn’t born yet lol). Being alongside each branch made me see military missions and strengths in different forms. I even found appreciation for the Coast Guard! Many of my best memories were from being in the Middle East, since I spent nearly half my career there. My time in Kuwait and Bahrain were not “as seen on tv.” I did a lot of humanitarian work there and found an even deeper meaning of life and service that we are all more similar than different on this planet. 

Every place I went to, I hoped to leave an everlasting impression on the people I met. I hope that I inspired people to be bold, take risks, and live the life they want to live without regrets. My grandfathers lived impactful lives to leave legacies not only through DNA but through service and communities around them. Those are the impressions I want to leave behind in my legacy. I encourage those who move about in this world to think about their legacy too.