Thomas Francis Darden Jr. | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Governor of American Samoa | |
| In office July 7, 1949 – February 23, 1951 | |
| Preceded by | Vernon Huber |
| Succeeded by | Phelps Phelps |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 8, 1900 |
| Died | June 17, 1961(1961-06-17) (aged 60) |
| Resting place | Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery |
| Occupation | Naval officer |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Navy |
| Rank | Captain |
| Commands | USSBenham (DD-397);USSDenver (CL-58); Special Programs Unit |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Empress Augusta Bay, Battle of Surigao Strait, Liberation of the Philippines |
Thomas Francis Darden Jr. (September 8, 1900 – June 17, 1961) was aU.S. Navy officer who achieved the rank ofcaptain,[1][2] the commander of a Navylight cruiser duringWorld War II, and was thegovernor of American Samoa from July 7, 1949 through February 23, 1951. Darden also served on the staffs of two U.S. Navy admirals during theWar in the Pacific: rear admiralsHenry Hughes Hough andThomas L. Sprague.
Darden served on and commanded warships, and then in the 1940s was appointed head of the "Special Programs Unit". This unit trainedAfrican Americans for accelerated promotion in the Navy; Darden himself advocated forracial integration in the Navy.
Darden also served as the last military governor ofAmerican Samoa, and since February 1951, his successors have all been civilians.
Darden was born on September 8, 1900, inBrooklyn, New York.[3] He died on June 17, 1961.[3] He is buried at theFort Rosecrans National Cemetery inSan Diego, California.[2]
While he was alieutenant, Darden served as theaide-de-camp and the flag secretary for Rear AdmiralHenry Hughes Hough.[4] For a period of time following World War II, Darden served as an assistant toChief of Naval Personnel Rear AdmiralThomas L. Sprague.[5]
Darden took command of thedestroyerUSSBenham (DD-397)on February 2, 1939.[6] Then, during the War in the Pacific,
Darden commanded thelight cruiserUSSDenver (CL-58).[7]
In the latter 1940s, Darden headed the "Special Programs Unit", a naval unit intended to address the continuing role ofAfrican 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 Americanenlisted men for promotion to the rank ofChief Petty Officer. Many graduates of this program were given priority promotion, even when specific openings did not exist for them.[9]
Darden was the last military governor ofAmerican Samoa.[3] Darden took office on July 7, 1949, succeeding CaptainVernon Huber,[3] and he left the office on February 23, 1951,[3] to be succeeded by civilian governors from then on. Darden's primary assignment as the last U.S. Navy Governor was to ensure a smooth and orderly transition from U.S. Navy toInterior administration. Despite President Truman's 1948 order for the transition, there was still significant opposition due to political and economic concerns, including fears of losing land and the matai system. On March 1, 1951, Governor Darden and his wife departed the territory aboard theSS Sonoma.[10]
| Commandant(1900–1905) |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Naval(1905–1951) | ||
| Civil(1951–1978) | ||
| Elected(since 1978) | ||
