The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program is honored to announce the April 2021 story of the month has been selected to recognize the service of United States Navy Veteran, Sonarman, Petty Officer Second Class Daniel Black. The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program was privileged to interview Sonarman, Petty Officer Second Class Daniel Black at the Vinson Hall retirement Community in the Summer of 2019.

Interested in exploring new opportunities, Daniel Black decided to join the Navy in 1955. His first stop was basic training at San Diego with company 292. He shared "I didn’t find it too restricted...I didn’t mind the discipline; I came from a family of discipline." Black became a member of the color guard and was promoted to participate as the bigrade commander. Upon completion of boot camp, his first assignment was fleet sonar school, also located in San Diego. The school lasted 6 months and included intensive training which would prepare Black for assignments with the fleet.

After sonar school, Black was ordered to Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 4. He remarked, "I became a sonarman in a helicopter anti-submarine squadron." He was sent to survival school and exposed to different situations to prepare for helicopter service flying off of aircraft carriers. He proudly shared,

"Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 4 deployed on the USS Boxer in June of 1956, it was the first time that aircraft carrier had become an anti-submarine warfare aircraft carrier...the whole idea was that this would become a hunter killer type group." The Boxer completed different operations in the Sea of Japan and surrounding area. He recalled different experiences in the far east and reflected on post war Japan. While in Hong Kong, the Suez Crisis occurred, and the USS Boxer set sail for further orders as world events and Cold War threats intensified. After 12 years of distinguished service in the Navy, Black continued to serve by becoming an agent for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. 

The United States Navy Memorial honors United States Navy Veteran, Sonarman, Petty Officer Second Class Daniel Black, featured within this series titled, Tales from the Navy Log, Story of the Month. Each month, this series honors a Veteran’s story recorded by the Stories of Service Program at the Navy Memorial. To learn more about this story and to explore the Navy Memorial archive, visit the Navy Memorial Stories of Service site at https://www.navymemorial.org/stories-of-service.

To view this interview please visit the Vinson Hall Collection on the Navy Memorial Stories of Service page.