A World War II hero’s story of courage, survival, and segregation comes to light ahead of Veterans Day. In “The Messman,” veteran John Seagraves recounts his journey from a 17-year-old Black sailor facing discrimination to a member of a gun crew that helped defend the USS North Carolina against a Japanese kamikaze attack.
Nationwide — As the nation prepares to observe Veterans Day on November 11, a remarkable chapter of American military history takes center stage in The Messman: A World War II Hero Tells His Story of Survival & Segregation on the Battleship USS North Carolina, by Yvonne Rose, as told to by John Seagraves. This compelling firsthand account chronicles Seagraves’s experiences as a young African American sailor serving aboard one of the most decorated battleships of World War II. His story reveals the contradictions of serving a nation at war for freedom while facing racial segregation within its own military ranks.
At just 17 years old, Seagraves entered the Navy with determination and a willingness to serve. Although Black sailors excelled during boot camp, their subsequent assignments often reflected the racial barriers of the era. At a Navy training facility on St. Simons Island, Georgia, Seagraves and other Black sailors were assigned duties as Messmen: serving officers, including preparing meals, shining shoes, making beds, and washing dishes. But Seagraves had no intention of allowing those assignments to define his military service. After joining the USS North Carolina, he worked in the ship’s 16-inch turret gunpowder room, performing demanding duties that supported the battleship’s massive guns. Determined to contribute more directly to the ship’s defense, he approached an officer and requested an opportunity for Black sailors to serve on the ship’s 20-millimeter guns.
John’s persistence paid off when eight Black sailors were assigned to two of the ship’s guns, opening the way for their participation in the Gunnery Department. There were sixty-six Black Sailors on the North Carolina, out of a total of 2600 sailors. “I had broken the color line and finally integrated the Gunnery Department on the USS North Carolina,” Seagraves recounts in the book. “It was a proud moment that I will never forget.”
That achievement would soon be tested under fire. During operations in the Pacific, Seagraves and his fellow gunners faced a Japanese Kamikaze attack that brought a deadly enemy aircraft dangerously close to their ship. As the plane approached, the gun crews opened fire. John describes watching the aircraft continue toward the ship despite their efforts, until concentrated gunfire brought it down into the water near the battleship. For John Seagraves, the encounter was a defining moment of wartime survival—one that underscored the importance of every sailor’s contribution, regardless of race.
John’s story also recounts the devastating typhoon conditions that struck the Pacific fleet, destroying sleeping quarters and facilities and endangering the lives of thousands of sailors. Through these experiences, The Messman documents not only the dangers of combat but also the extraordinary hardships endured by the men who served.
While The Messman preserves an important account of World War II naval service, its significance extends beyond military history. It illuminates the lived experiences of Black servicemen who demonstrated courage, skill, and patriotism while confronting institutional discrimination.
Book Details:
The Messman: A World War II Hero Tells His Story of Survival & Segregation on the Battleship USS North Carolina
By Yvonne Rose
ISBN #: 979-8-9975599-1-7
148 pages
Available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Bookstores, Libraries, School Libraries, and Universities:
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For media interviews, review copies, or additional information, contact Yvonne Rose at amberbks@aol.com or 602-743-7426