Hugh David Black

Who was Hugh David Black?

Hugh David Black was an officer in the United States Navy during World War II.

Black was born in Oradell, New Jersey, on 29 June 1903. He was appointed to the United States Naval Academy in 1922, graduated in 1926, and served on board Richmond, mainly in the Far East, between 1926 and 1928. During the next few years, he was an officer on board the battleship New York, the gunboat Asheville, and the destroyers Parrott, Rizal and Montgomery. Lieutenant Black was assigned to the Naval Training Station, San Diego, California, in 1933–1934, then served on board the destroyer Upshur and during 1935–38 commanded the minesweeper Lark.

Lt. Black had duty with the Navy's Bureau of Navigation, in Washington, D.C., in 1938 and attended Harvard University for two years, beginning mid-1938. He was Executive Officer of the new destroyer Benson in 1940–1941. In March 1941, he took command of the destroyer Jacob Jones.

Lieutenant Commander Hugh D. Black lost his life when Jacob Jones was sunk by a German submarine on 28 February 1942.