ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. -- The first black U.S. Navy submarine commander didn't always get the respect from sailors that officers are due. But he followed his heart during racially heated times to one day find himself making history.
About 150 people gathered in Heritage Hall for Rock Island Arsenal's Black History Month Observance here, Feb. 25.
Retired Navy Capt. C.A. "Pete" Tzomes, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, was the guest speaker.
"I have provided some examples of my Navy experiences, not for sympathy or anything similar," he said. "I would like for everyone to recognize how much things have improved over the past forty years. I'm proud to have served my country and all the credit is not mine for being the first black to succeed in the Navy's submarine force. I could not have succeeded without support and cooperation from non-African American, as well as other African American officers and sailors."
Tzomes served in the military from 1967-1994, and was the first black commander of a U.S. submarine. He spoke about his personal experiences serving at a time when African Americans struggled to find respect in the military.
The event began with the national anthem, sung by Ashley Dean, who received an enthusiastic response from the audience. After the invocation, led by Chaplain (Maj.) Terry Jarvis, Joint Munitions Command, five people seated throughout the audience recited short monologues representing important historical African American figures. The monologues highlighted historic contributions from W.E.B. Dubois, Medgar Evers, Rosa Parks, Fredrick Douglas and Harriet Tubman.
"One racist action from the 1960s and 1970s was failure of white enlisted to respect black officers via the traditional salute," said Tzomes. "Many would cross the street on military bases to avoid an encounter with a black officer. Not everyone was like this."
In his senior year at the academy, Tzomes served on a submarine cruise ported in Key West, Florida. The crew accepted, respected, and embraced Tzomes. At the end of the cruise period, the Key West Chamber of Commerce sponsored a party for the midshipmen and invited young ladies from the local community to attend. Instructions, however, were passed along that Midshipmen Tzomes was specifically not invited.
The crew became vocally upset, and Tzomes's executive officer went to the squadron commander to complain about the unfair treatment of his midshipman.
"This man put his career on the line over a racial issue in the turbulent 1960s," said Tzomes. "Aboard a submarine in close quarters and frequently submerged, the crew gets to know a person regardless of previously held racial biases."
Tzomes gave several more personal accounts of the challenges he faced throughout his naval career, and closed his speech with a clear message.
Asked how he felt about the progress he's seen regarding racial issues in the military, he simply said, "The military has always led the way in equal opportunity."
Tzomes became the first black commander of a submarine in 1983, aboard the USS Houston. He served in Washing D.C. from 1988-1990 as director, Equal Opportunity Division, Bureau of Naval Personnel, and as personal advisor to the chief of Naval personnel on equal opportunity issues. His story has been featured in several publications, including Graduating Engineer and Ebony magazines.
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