Heroes of the Sea: African-American Sailors in WW2 | US Navy Documentary 1945

This classic film serves as a propagandistic documentary crafted by the U.S. Department of the Navy, directed by Henry Levin, likely intended as a recruitment tool. While its production was finalized in 1945, the film's release was deferred until 1946. Its primary focus is on honoring the courageous contributions of African-Americans within the U.S. Navy during World War II, emphasizing the principles of integration, merit-based advancement, equal treatment, and collaborative teamwork within the Navy.

Synopsis:
Joel Fluellen takes the lead role in the film, portraying a civilian draftee transitioning from his occupation at a newspaper through the rigors of basic training and deployment in the Pacific theater. The documentary provides glimpses of Hampton Institute, the U.S. Naval Training School for African-American Navy enlisted personnel during the mid-1940s. It meticulously showcases all stages of Navy boot camp as inclusive and equitable. The film underscores the fact that all Navy positions were accessible to African Americans, depicting sailors mastering navigation, radio operation, aviation mechanics, and various other specialized roles. Notably, the documentary pays tribute to African American non-combatants who earned esteemed Navy Service Awards for their acts of bravery, including Doris (Dorie) Miller, Elbert H. Oliver, William Pinckney, and Leonard Roy Harmon.

Ensemble:
The cast includes the renowned American actor Spencer Williams in the role of Frank Roberts, a newspaper columnist, and American actor Joel Fluellen, who portrays Bill Johnson, a sailor.