# Thomas Darden

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United States Navy officer (1900–1961)

For the American football player also named Thomas Darden, see [Thom Darden](/source/Thom_Darden).

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 Brooklyn, New York, US 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 USS Benham (DD-397); USS Denver (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 a [U.S. Navy](/source/U.S._Navy) officer who achieved the rank of [captain](/source/Captain_(United_States)),[1][2] the commander of a Navy [light cruiser](/source/Light_cruiser) during [World War II](/source/World_War_II), and was the [governor of American Samoa](/source/Governor_of_American_Samoa) from July 7, 1949 through February 23, 1951. Darden also served on the staffs of two U.S. Navy admirals during the [War in the Pacific](/source/War_in_the_Pacific): rear admirals [Henry Hughes Hough](/source/Henry_Hughes_Hough) and [Thomas L. Sprague](/source/Thomas_L._Sprague).

Darden served on and commanded warships, and then in the 1940s was appointed head of the "Special Programs Unit". This unit trained [African Americans](/source/African_Americans) for accelerated promotion in the Navy; Darden himself advocated for [racial integration](/source/Racial_integration) in the Navy.

Darden also served as the last military governor of [American Samoa](/source/American_Samoa), and since February 1951, his successors have all been civilians.

## Life

Darden was born on September 8, 1900, in [Brooklyn, New York](/source/Brooklyn%2C_New_York).[3] He died on June 17, 1961.[3] He is buried at the [Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery](/source/Fort_Rosecrans_National_Cemetery) in [San Diego](/source/San_Diego), California.[2]

## Naval career

Darden on the staff of Hough; he is in the back.

While he was a [lieutenant](/source/Lieutenant#Naval_rank), Darden served as the [aide-de-camp](/source/Aide-de-camp) and the flag secretary for Rear Admiral [Henry Hughes Hough](/source/Henry_Hughes_Hough).[4] For a period of time following World War II, Darden served as an assistant to [Chief of Naval Personnel](/source/Chief_of_Naval_Personnel) Rear Admiral [Thomas L. Sprague](/source/Thomas_L._Sprague).[5]

Darden took command of the [destroyer](/source/Destroyer) [USS *Benham* (DD-397)on](/source/USS_Benham_(DD-397)) February 2, 1939.[6] Then, during the War in the Pacific,

Darden commanded the [light cruiser](/source/Light_cruiser) [USS *Denver* (CL-58)](/source/USS_Denver_(CL-58)).[7]

In the latter 1940s, Darden headed the "Special Programs Unit", a naval unit intended to address the continuing role of [African Americans in the U.S. Navy](/source/Military_history_of_African_Americans). 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 American [enlisted men](/source/Enlisted_men) for promotion to the rank of [Chief Petty Officer](/source/Chief_Petty_Officer). Many graduates of this program were given priority promotion, even when specific openings did not exist for them.[9]

## Governorship

Darden was the last military governor of [American Samoa](/source/American_Samoa).[3] Darden took office on July 7, 1949, succeeding Captain [Vernon Huber](/source/Vernon_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 to [Interior](/source/United_States_Department_of_the_Interior) 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 the *SS Sonoma*.[10]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Sorensen, Stan; Joseph Theroux. ["The Samoan Historical Calendar, 1606-2007"](http://americansamoa.gov/history/samhist_forweb.pdf) (PDF). [Government of American Samoa](/source/Government_of_American_Samoa). p. 146. Retrieved 1 July 2010.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-grave_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-grave_2-1) ["DARDEN, THOMAS FRANCIS JR"](http://gravelocator.cem.va.gov/j2ee/servlet/NGL_v1). [United States Department of Veterans Affairs](/source/United_States_Department_of_Veterans_Affairs). 2010. Retrieved 2 July 2010.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-profile_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-profile_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-profile_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-profile_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-profile_3-4) ["Captain Thomas Francis Darden, Jr"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100527143155/http://americansamoa.gov/governors/captain-thomas-francis-darden-jr). *Governors*. [Government of American Samoa](/source/Government_of_American_Samoa). 2010. Archived from [the original](http://americansamoa.gov/governors/captain-thomas-francis-darden-jr) on 27 May 2010. Retrieved 23 May 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Rear Admiral Isaac C. Kidd, USN, (1884-1941)"](https://web.archive.org/web/20010115091300/http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/pers-us/uspers-k/ic-kidd.htm). *[Naval History & Heritage Command](/source/Naval_History_%26_Heritage_Command)*. [United States Navy](/source/United_States_Navy). 17 October 2000. Archived from [the original](http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/pers-us/uspers-k/ic-kidd.htm) on January 15, 2001. Retrieved 24 May 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** "Armed Forces Map Draft Procedures". *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. [New York City](/source/New_York_City). 26 June 1948.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Francis, Timothy (8 February 2006). ["Benham"](https://web.archive.org/web/20060905150305/http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b5/benham-ii.htm). *Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships*. [United States Navy](/source/United_States_Navy). Archived from [the original](http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b5/benham-ii.htm) on September 5, 2006. Retrieved 24 May 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [Morison, Samuel Eliot](/source/Samuel_Eliot_Morison) (2002). [*History of United States Naval Operations in World War II. Vol. 13: The Liberation of the Philippines--Luzon, Mindanao, the Visayas, 1944-1945*](https://books.google.com/books?id=nICvzYNBKiUC&q=Darden&pg=RA1-PA246). [Urbana, Illinois](/source/Urbana%2C_Illinois): [University of Illinois Press](/source/University_of_Illinois_Press). p. 246. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-252-07064-X](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-252-07064-X). Retrieved 24 May 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Purdon, Eric (2000). [*Black Company: The Story of Subchaser 1264*](https://books.google.com/books?id=DQ4aVo_GKKAC&q=%22Thomas+f+Darden%22&pg=PA22). [Annapolis, Maryland](/source/Annapolis%2C_Maryland): [Naval Institute Press](/source/Naval_Institute_Press). pp. 22–23. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-55750-658-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-55750-658-2). Retrieved 24 May 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Marolda, Edward (2007). [*The U.S. Navy in the Korean War*](https://books.google.com/books?id=nwvuszOAeLwC&q=%22Thomas+f+Darden%22&pg=PA258). [Annapolis, Maryland](/source/Annapolis%2C_Maryland): [Naval Institute Press](/source/Naval_Institute_Press). p. 258. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-59114-487-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-59114-487-8). Retrieved 24 May 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Sunia, Fofō Iosefa Fiti (2001). *Puputoa: Host of Heroes - A record of the history makers in the First Century of American Samoa, 1900-2000*. Suva, Fiji: Oceania Printers. Page 22. ISBN 9829036022.

v t e Governors of American Samoa Commandant (1900–1905) Tilley Sebree Minett Underwood Naval (1905–1951) Moore Parker Crose Post Stearns Post Woodruff Poyer Terhune Evans Pollock Kellogg Bryan Graham Lincoln Spore Emerson Lincoln Landenberger Latimore Dowling Fitzpatrick Milne Hanson Wallace Wild Larsen (alongside Wild) Moyer Hobbs Hungerford Canan Houser Huber Darden Civil (1951–1978) Phelps Elliott Ewing Judd Lowe Coleman Lee Aspinall Haydon Mockler Ruth Barnett Lee Elected (since 1978) Coleman Lutali Coleman Lutali Sunia Tulafono Moliga Mauga Pula

Authority control databases VIAF GND WorldCat

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