As a fleet sailor for over thirty years, I saw our Navy and other branches military up close and personal. Yes, when I raised my right hand in 1970 to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America,” there were still vestiges of racism and discrimination in all the services. Perhaps there was more in the tradition-bound Navy than in any other branch — stewards were either Filipino or Black, and there were very few minority commanding officers, let alone admirals. That has changed dramatically in the last fifty years.
