ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. (WAVY) — The U.C. Coast Guard held a ceremony on Tuesday celebrating the service of the first African American Coast Guard diver.
The ceremony was held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, Weeksville Road Building 47, in Elizabeth City.
The Coast Guard honored Ralph Berry, who in 1979 became the first African American to graduate from the Navy Dive and Salvage Center in Panama City, Florida.
He was then assigned to the Atlantic Strike Team in Elizabeth City. He dove on the sunken Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn in 1980. Berry also attached to the Coast Guard Cutter Basswood in Guam and the Coast Guard Cutter Sassafras in Hawaii.
The Coast Guard said his family has served more than 400 years combined in the Coast Guard. One of his relatives is Richard Etheridge, the first African American to command a Life-Saving Station.
“The Coast Guard is proud to celebrate and recognize a member who continually challenged himself and kept true to the Coast Guard core values of Honor, Respect, and Devotion to Duty,” the Coast Guard said.
Berry attended and spoke during the ceremony.
Ralph Berry, the first Coast Guard African American diver, poses for a picture with his family, during a ceremony honoring his service at Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, Nov. 23, 2021. Berry’s family have served a combined 400 years with the Coast Guard and includes the historic contributions of Richard Etheridge, the first African American Life-Saving Station Keeper. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Michael R. Moberley) 
Artifacts and photos from Ralph Berry’s time as a Coast Guard diver are displayed during a ceremony honoring him as the service’s first African American diver at Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, Nov. 23, 2021. Berry’s family have served a combined 400 years with the Coast Guard and includes the historic contributions of Richard Etheridge, the first African American Life-Saving Station Keeper. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Michael R. Moberley) 
Lt. Cmdr. Shaka Hill, a Coast Guard diver, presents Ralph Berry, the first Coast Guard African American diver, with his diver certificate during a ceremony at Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, Nov. 23, 2021. Berry’s family have served a combined 400 years with the Coast Guard and includes the historic contributions of Richard Etheridge, the first African American Life-Saving Station Keeper. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Michael R. Moberley) 
Ralph Berry, the first Coast Guard African American diver, speaks during a ceremony honoring his service at Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, Nov. 23, 2021. Berry’s family have served a combined 400 years with the Coast Guard and includes the historic contributions of Richard Etheridge, the first African American Life-Saving Station Keeper. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Michael R. Moberley) 
Ralph Berry, the first Coast Guard African American diver, speaks during a ceremony honoring his service at Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, Nov. 23, 2021. Berry’s family have served a combined 400 years with the Coast Guard and includes the historic contributions of Richard Etheridge, the first African American Life-Saving Station Keeper. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Michael R. Moberley) 
Ralph Berry, the first Coast Guard African American diver, attends a ceremony honoring his service at Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, Nov. 23, 2021. Berry’s family have served a combined 400 years with the Coast Guard and includes the historic contributions of Richard Etheridge, the first African American Life-Saving Station Keeper. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Michael R. Moberley) 
Ralph Berry, the first Coast Guard African American diver, poses for a picture with the members of Coast Guard’s Regional Dive Locker East during a ceremony honoring his service at Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, Nov. 23, 2021. Berry’s family have served a combined 400 years with the Coast Guard and includes the historic contributions of Richard Etheridge, the first African American Life-Saving Station Keeper. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Michael R. Moberley) 
Ralph Berry, the first Coast Guard African American diver, poses for a picture with Capt. Lamont Bazemore, Chief of Planning and Force Readiness for the Fifth Coast Guard District, during a ceremony honoring his service at Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, Nov. 23, 2021. Berry’s family have served a combined 400 years with the Coast Guard and includes the historic contributions of Richard Etheridge, the first African American Life-Saving Station Keeper. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Michael R. Moberley)
Download the WAVY News App to keep up with the latest news, weather and sports from WAVY-TV 10. Available in both the Apple and Google Play stores.