Fun Fact # 286 The Golden Thirteen

 Fun Fact #286

The Golden Thirteen

After being pressured by Rossevelt’s wife and seeing the success of the Tuskegee Airmen, the US Navy accepted 16 African American men as officers as an “Experiment”,  but shortened the normal training period from 16 weeks to 8 weeks to try and wash them out. All 16 would pass with 13 of them becoming commissioned Officers. Ma y of the thirteen went on to be highly decorated, changing the Navy's perception of African Americans and their example would later be used to convince members of the military to support the Civil Rights Movement. Today they are remembered at “The Great Lakes Naval Recruit Training Command'' located near Chicago Illinois.