First African American Navy Seal to Receive 2023 Lone Sailor Award
Washington, DC — June 08, 2023
The United States Navy Memorial will present retired U.S. Navy Master Chief William Goines, the Navy’s first African American SEAL, with the 2023 Lone Sailor Award.
The Lone Sailor Award is presented to Sea Service veterans who have excelled with distinction in their respective careers during or after their service. William Goines was nominated for the award by Rear Admiral Julius Caesar, USN (Ret.).
"At 87 years old, Master Chief William ‘Bill’ Goines is a towering figure who loves the Navy. He excelled as a Navy SEAL deploying on dangerous missions and was a part of the early establishment of the Navy SEALS in 1962. Master Chief Goines faced headwinds as the first African American Navy SEAL but overcame them through grit, determination, and a love of the Nation. He’s an inspiration to all through his humility. It is an honor to nominate him!"
William Goines was born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1936, and as a child moved with his family to Lockland in suburban Cincinnati. His father worked in the automotive industry and had a second job in a pool hall.
Goines attended all-black Lockland Wayne High School. In his junior year, after seeing the movie The Frogmen, he was inspired to join the Navy. He went to see a recruiter but was instructed to finish high school first.
After receiving his diploma, Goines enlisted in the Navy in 1955. At the time, African American recruits were tracked to become stewards (merged into culinary specialists in 1975). However, a man from Goines' hometown told him he should strive to do more. Goines was promised training for underwater demolition, but plans changed, and he was sent to Malta, where 11 months later, he eventually would begin Frogman training with U.S. Navy officers, enlisted soldiers, U.S. Army Rangers, and foreign naval officers.
After three weeks, all the Rangers had dropped out. In 1957, Goines was one of only 14 of those training to complete the training, which also included a Norwegian Navy Officer who went on to become the Chief of the Royal Navy of Norway. When President John F. Kennedy formed the first two SEAL teams in 1962 - Team One on the West Coast and Team Two on the East Coast - Goines became one of 40 chosen to join Team Two and the only African American Navy SEAL.
Goines served three tours in the Vietnam War with SEAL teams, going twice with 14-man platoons and once leading a Vietnamese unit. He was fluent in English, French, and Spanish but found it hard to learn Vietnamese in combat. However, he managed to teach Spanish to some of his Vietnamese interpreters for radio communication.
In 1976, Goines was selected to become part of the Chuting Stars, a Navy Parachute Demonstration Team, where he served for five years, performing 640 free falls and 194 static line jumps. During one jump in Pennsylvania, he landed wrong on a hill and "smashed all the cartilage" in his knees.
Goines retired from the Navy in 1987 as a Master Chief Petty Officer after 32 years of service. He has been awarded the Bronze Star, the Navy Commendation Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, a Combat Action Ribbon, and the Presidential Unit Citation. Following his discharge, he relocated to Portsmouth, Virginia, and served as the chief of police for a school system for 14 years. He later worked to recruit more people of color into Navy SEALs.
Master Chief Goines will join an impressive list of men and women who have distinguished themselves by drawing upon their military experience to become successful in their subsequent careers and lives while exemplifying the core values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment.
The U.S. Navy Memorial will present him with the Lone Sailor Award during a celebratory gala dinner in Washington, D.C., in September 2023.
“Master Chief Goines represents all of the attributes of a Lone Sailor Awardee, reaching heights that others haven’t achieved before them, setting an example for others to emulate, and living a life of distinguished service,” said retired Rear Admiral Frank Thorp, President and CEO of the Navy Memorial.
To learn more about the Lone Sailor Award and see past recipients, visit www.NavyMemorial.org. If you’re interested in attending or becoming a sponsor of the 2023 dinner, contact Lisa Barker at lbarker@navymemorial.org.
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The US Navy Memorial is a not-for-profit, 501(c)3 organization whose mission is to Honor, Recognize and Celebrate the men and women of the Sea Services, past, present and future; and to Inform the public about their service. The Navy Memorial is located at 701 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004.