# Delbert Black > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Delbert_Black > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Delbert_Black.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delbert_Black > Source revision: 1352392428 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) 1st Master Chief Petty Officer of the US Navy "Delbert D. Black" redirects here. For the guided-missile destroyer named after Black, see [USS *Delbert D. Black*](/source/USS_Delbert_D._Black). This article needs more citations. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Delbert Black" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (February 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Delbert D. Black 1st Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Born (1922-07-11)11 July 1922 Orr, Oklahoma, US Died 5 March 2000(2000-03-05) (aged 77) Winter Park, Florida, US Buried Arlington National Cemetery Allegiance United States Branch United States Navy Service years 1941–1971 (30 years) Rank Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Commands Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Conflicts World War II Attack on Pearl Harbor Awards Navy Distinguished Service Medal **Delbert D. Black** (11 July 1922 – 5 March 2000) was a senior sailor in the [United States Navy](/source/United_States_Navy) who served as the first [Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy](/source/Master_Chief_Petty_Officer_of_the_Navy) from 13 January 1967 to 1 April 1971. ## Early life and family Black was born in [Orr, Oklahoma](/source/Love_County%2C_Oklahoma), graduating from high school in 1940. He enlisted in the [United States Navy](/source/United_States_Navy) on 14 March 1941. Delbert "Del" Black was married to Ima Black for 50 years and had a son Donny D. Black. Grandfather to Dylan and Nathan Black. ## Naval career Upon completion of recruit training in [San Diego](/source/San_Diego), Black was assigned to the [USS *Maryland* (BB-46)](/source/USS_Maryland_(BB-46)) and was aboard during the attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. He later served at Receiving Station, Pearl Harbor; [USS *Doyle C. Barnes* (DE-353)](/source/USS_Doyle_C._Barnes); [Naval Air Base Samar](/source/Guiuan_Airfield), [Philippines](/source/Philippines); [USS *Gardiners Bay* (AVP-39)](/source/USS_Gardiners_Bay), [USS *Boxer* (CVA-21)](/source/USS_Boxer_(CV-21)); [USS *Antietam* (CVA-36)](/source/USS_Antietam_(CV-36)); U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard, Washington, D.C.; [Yokosuka, Japan](/source/Yokosuka%2C_Japan) ship repair facilities; [USS *Brush* (DD-745)](/source/USS_Brush); [USS *Carpenter* (DDE-825)](/source/USS_Carpenter); [USS *Norfolk* (DL-1)](/source/USS_Norfolk_(DL-1)); Recruiting Duty, Columbia, Tennessee; [USS *Springfield* (CL-66)](/source/USS_Springfield_(CL-66)); [USS *Independence* (CV-62)](/source/USS_Independence_(CV-62)); and Fleet Anti-Air Warfare Training Center (FAAWTC), [Dam Neck, Virginia](/source/Training_Support_Center_Hampton_Roads). During his career, he advanced from striking for the rate of [Gunner's Mate](/source/Gunner's_Mate) to the rank of [Master Chief](/source/Master_chief_petty_officer). ### Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy On 13 January 1967, the [Secretary of the Navy](/source/Secretary_of_the_Navy) announced the appointment of Master Chief Gunner's Mate (GMCM) Black as the first Senior Enlisted Advisor, the position that would evolve into Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy. As such, he was the highest rated [enlisted](/source/Enlisted_rank) man in the United States Navy, serving as the enlisted representative to the [Chief of Naval Operations](/source/Chief_of_Naval_Operations). His function was to counsel the highest ranks of the Navy on issues associated with enlisted guidance, leadership, and policy. Black was the first enlisted man to write a foreword for *[The Bluejacket's Manual](/source/The_Bluejacket's_Manual)*. ## Retirement and later work The twelfth Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) [Rick D. West](/source/Rick_D._West) lays a single red rose at the gravesite of the first MCPON Delbert Black at [Arlington National Cemetery](/source/Arlington_National_Cemetery). Upon retirement from active duty, Black continued his involvement with the Navy through retired and active duty organizations. He was an active member of the [USO](/source/USO) Council of Central Florida; the [Fleet Reserve Association](/source/Fleet_Reserve_Association); and co-chairman on the Secretary of Navy Committee on Retired Personnel. He died at his home in Winter Park, Florida from a heart attack at the age of 77. He is buried in [Arlington National Cemetery](/source/Arlington_National_Cemetery), Section 11, Site 496 LH. At a 13 March 2015 ceremony at the Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C., Navy Secretary [Ray Mabus](/source/Ray_Mabus) and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (AW/NAC) [Michael D. Stevens](/source/Michael_D._Stevens) announced that an [Arleigh Burke-class destroyer](/source/Arleigh_Burke-class_destroyer), *[USS Delbert D. Black](/source/USS_Delbert_D._Black)*, would honor Delbert Black. ## Awards and decorations 1st Row Navy Distinguished Service Medal (Master Chief Black was the first Navy enlisted man to receive this award.) Combat Action Ribbon Navy Unit Commendation 2nd Row Navy Good Conduct Medal (with 6 service stars) China Service Medal American Defense Service Medal (with 1 campaign star) 3rd Row American Campaign Medal Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (with 8 campaign stars) World War II Victory Medal 4th Row Navy Occupation Service Medal National Defense Service Medal (with 1 service star) Korean Service Medal 5th Row Antarctica Service Medal Vietnam Service Medal with service star Philippine Presidential Unit Citation 6th Row Korean Presidential Unit Citation Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation Philippine Liberation Medal (with 2 service stars) 7th Row United Nations Korea Medal Vietnam Campaign Medal Korean War Service Medal - 7 gold [Service stripes](/source/Service_stripe). ## References - [Biography portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Biography) ## External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Delbert Black](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Delbert_Black). Wikiquote has quotations related to ***[Delbert Black](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Special:Search/Delbert_Black)***. - [Biography](https://web.archive.org/web/20041105141335/https://wrc.navair-rdte.navy.mil/warfighter_enc/History/bios/black.htm) - [Biography at quarterdeck.org](http://www.quarterdeck.org/WindsOfChange/012-29%20MCPON%20Black.htm) Military offices New title Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy 13 January 1967 – 1 April 1971 Succeeded by John Whittet Authority control databases International VIAF WorldCat National United States Other NARA SNAC --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Delbert Black](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delbert_Black) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delbert_Black?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.