Thomas Darden

Thomas Francis Darden Jr. (September 8, 1900 – June 17, 1961) was a U.S. Navy officer who achieved the rank of captain,[1][2] the commander of a Navy light cruiser during World War II, and was the governor of American Samoa from July 7, 1949 through February 23, 1951. Darden also served on the staffs of two U.S. Navy admirals during the War in the Pacific: rear admirals Henry Hughes Hough and Thomas L. Sprague.

For the American football player also named Thomas Darden, see Thom Darden.
Thomas Francis Darden Jr.
Governor of American Samoa
In office
July 7, 1949 – February 23, 1951
Preceded byVernon Huber
Succeeded byPhelps Phelps
Personal details
BornSeptember 8, 1900
Brooklyn, New York, US
DiedJune 17, 1961(1961-06-17) (aged 60)
Resting placeFort Rosecrans National Cemetery
OccupationNaval officer
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Navy
RankCaptain
CommandsUSS Benham (DD-397); USS Denver (CL-58); Special Programs Unit
Battles/warsBattle of Empress Augusta Bay,
Battle of Surigao Strait,
Liberation of the Philippines

Darden served on and commanded warships, and then in the 1940s was appointed head of the "Special Programs Unit". This unit trained African Americans for accelerated promotion in the Navy; Darden himself advocated for racial integration in the Navy.

Darden also served as the last military governor of American Samoa, and since February 1951, his successors have all been civilians.

Life

Darden was born on September 8, 1900, in Brooklyn, New York.[3] He died on June 17, 1961.[3] He is buried at the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California.[2]

Darden on the staff of Hough; he is in the back.

While he was a lieutenant, Darden served as the aide-de-camp and the flag secretary for Rear Admiral Henry Hughes Hough.[4] For a period of time following World War II, Darden served as an assistant to Chief of Naval Personnel Rear Admiral Thomas L. Sprague.[5]

Darden took command of the destroyer USS Benham (DD-397)on February 2, 1939.[6] Then, during the War in the Pacific,

Darden commanded the light cruiser USS Denver (CL-58).[7]

In the latter 1940s, Darden headed the "Special Programs Unit", a naval unit intended to address the continuing role of African Americans in the U.S. Navy. Darden advocated integrating Black personnel into the U.S. Navy.[8] He and fellow naval officers in the program developed a course to prepare African American enlisted men for promotion to the rank of Chief Petty Officer. Many graduates of this program were given priority promotion, even when specific openings did not exist for them.[9]

Governorship

Darden was the last military governor of American Samoa.[3] Darden took office on July 7, 1949, succeeding Captain Vernon Huber,[3] and he left the office on February 23, 1951,[3] to be succeeded by civilian governors from then on.

References
  1. Sorensen, Stan; Joseph Theroux. "The Samoan Historical Calendar, 1606-2007" (PDF). Government of American Samoa. p. 146. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  2. "DARDEN, THOMAS FRANCIS JR". United States Department of Veterans Affairs. 2010. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  3. "Captain Thomas Francis Darden, Jr". Governors. Government of American Samoa. 2010. Archived from the original on 27 May 2010. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  4. "Rear Admiral Isaac C. Kidd, USN, (1884-1941)". Naval History & Heritage Command. United States Navy. 17 October 2000. Retrieved 24 May 2010.
  5. "Armed Forces Map Draft Procedures". The New York Times. New York City. 26 June 1948.
  6. Francis, Timothy (8 February 2006). "Benham". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. United States Navy. Retrieved 24 May 2010.
  7. Morison, Samuel Eliot (2002). History of United States Naval Operations in World War II. Vol. 13: The Liberation of the Philippines--Luzon, Mindanao, the Visayas, 1944-1945. Urbana, Illinois: University of Illinois Press. p. 246. ISBN 0-252-07064-X. Retrieved 24 May 2010.
  8. Purdon, Eric (2000). Black Company: The Story of Subchaser 1264. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. pp. 22–23. ISBN 1-55750-658-2. Retrieved 24 May 2010.
  9. Marolda, Edward (2007). The U.S. Navy in the Korean War. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. p. 258. ISBN 978-1-59114-487-8. Retrieved 24 May 2010.


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