Great Sage of the Sea
Posts: 618
Location: Issaquah WA, USA | Subject: A Historic Black Submariner on Eternal Patrol
LCDR Killraine Newton of Virginia Beach, Va., sailed on his Final Patrol October 8th, 2007, at Sentara Leigh Hospital in Virginia Beach.
“Newt” lived by the phrase, “The Hell I Can’t,” and with charisma and plain bulldoggedness, charted an extraordinary course through many seas.
Newt accomplished many firsts: making US Naval history retiring as a Lt. Commander, the highest rank ever achieved by a former wartime steward; becoming the 1st African-American to join real estate investment firm Goodman, Segar, Hogan, and becoming the first African-American to achieve the position of Director of Public Housing in his career with the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority, Newt did not like to let the grass grow beneath his feet.
Jake Kilraine Newton, Jr. was born November 8th, 1922, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, to Ethel and Jake Kilrain Newton, Sr., with traceable roots to Northern Neck to the 1780’s. Newt graduated from A.T. Johnson High School in Westmoreland County, VA.
Prior to World War II, he worked with the Civil Conservation Corps and as a Supply Clerk in the Yorktown, VA Naval Mine Depot.
In 1943, threatened with brig time for refusing the only Naval rate offered to African-Americans at the time, Newt was drafted into the Navy, “kicking and screaming,” as a 3rd Class Steward’s Mate.
Volunteering for Submarine Service, he was assigned to the USS Sailfish (SS-192), sailing on Pacific war patrols with lifelong friends Adm. Bob Ward and Ray Bunt.
Newt served 17 years in diesel boats and surface vessels: USS Sea Leopard (SS 483), USS Chopper (SS 342), USS Capitaine (SS 336), USS Volador (SS 490), USS Spinax (SSR 489) and USS Nereus (AS 17).
In 1955, Newt cross-rated as an Electronics Tech, rapidly advancing from Chief Warrant Officer to LTJG, serving aboard USS Lookout (AGR 2) and USS Wright (CC 2). He retired from the Navy in 1971 as Director, ET “C” School, Electronic Warfare, Treasure Island, San Francisco, CA. Newt is known as the “Father” of the Electronic Warfare Technician rating (EW), and along with fellow subvet Anderson Royal, developed the Navy’s EWT Training Program.
Post-Navy, Newt didn’t “retire;” after his historic stint at Goodman, Segar, Hogan, in 1973, he joined the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority. In various roles as Director, Park Place, Conservation and Rehab Program; Assistant to Director of NRHA, Director of Home Ownership Program, Director Public Housing Anti-Crime Program, Assistant Director of NRHA Maintenance Department, and Director, Public Housing and Social Services, Newt worked to raise the standards for thousands of public housing residents, retiring in January 1990.
Newton remained busy post-retirement with tennis, bowling, rose gardening, acting in small theater, speaking engagements, working with community groups (Framingham), and collecting antiques, particularly clocks and African-American history.
He was a mentor to many, and a friend to all. He was a member of many organizations; notably the Submarine Veterans of World War II, Fleet Reserve Association Hampton Roads Committee of 200+ Men. Despite numerous commendations and awards, Newt rarely spoke of them, only saying that he’s represented his old buddies, the Mess Attendants & Stewards of Unit K-West and B-East well, and that’s reward enough. |