been outlawed for
enlisted men at sea by Secretary John D. Long more
than a decade earlier. The 1914 prohibition rule
infuriated the officers. One predicted that the
ruling would push officers into "the use of cocaine
and other dangerous drugs." Quoted in Ronald
Spector, _Admiral of the New Empire_ (Baton Rouge:
University of Louisiana Press, 1974), pp. 191-92.]

Forrestal was convinced that in order to succeed racial reform must
first be accepted by the men already in uniform; integration, if
quietly and gradually put into effect, would soon demonstrate its
efficiency and make the change acceptable to all members of the
service. Quiet gradualism became the hallmark of his effort. In August
1945 the Navy had some 165,000 Negroes, almost 5.5 percent of its
total strength. Sixty-four of them, including six women, were
commissioned officers.[9-7] Presumably, these men and women would be the
first to enjoy the fruits of the new integration order. Their number
could also be expected to increase because, as Secretary Forrestal
reported in August 1946, the only quotas on enlistment were those
determined by the needs of the Navy and the limitation of (p. 236)
funds.[9-8] Even as he spoke, at least some black sailors were being
trained in almost all naval ratings and were serving throughout the
fleet, on planes and in submarines, working and living with whites.
The signs pointed to a new day for Negroes in the Navy.

[Footnote 9-7: Unless otherwise noted the statistical
information used in this section was supplied by
the Office, Assistant Chief for Management
Information, BuPers. See also BuPers, "Enlisted
Strength--U.S. Navy," 26 Jul 46, Pers 215-BL, copy
in CMH.]

[Footnote 9-8: Ltr, SecNav to Harvard Chapter, AVC,
26 Aug 46, P16-3 MM GenRecsNav.]

[Illustration: SHORE LEAVE IN KOREA. _Men of the USS Topeka land in
Inch'on, 1948._]

But during the chaotic months of demobilization a different picture
began to emerge. Although Negroes continued to number about 5 percent
of the Navy's enlisted strength, their position altered radically. The
average strength figures for 1946 showed 3,300 Negroes, 16 percent of
the total black strength