Men of Honor

Men of Honor

2000

Director: George Tillman Jr.

Writer: Scott Marshall Smith

129 Minutes

“The Navy Diver is not a fighting man, he is a salvage expert. If it is lost underwater, he finds it. If it's sunk, he brings it up. If it's in the way, he moves it. If he's lucky, he will die young, 200 feet beneath the waves, for that is the closest he'll ever get to being a hero.” – Billy Sunday

Billy Sunday (Robert De Niro) is a bad ass - one-hundred percent bad ass. And Carl Brashear (Cuba Gooding Jr) needs his help.

Men of Honor is about the life of Chief Carl Brashear and his experience being a Navy diver. The film begins when Carl is a boy showing his God-given skill of swimming and holding his breathe underwater. He joins the Navy and because of his skin color, he is made a cook. After years of trying, he is accepted into the Naval Diving School where he encounters Master Chief Billy Sunday.

Issue.

These two come from the same humble means. They’ve had to work hard for what they have. And they are men of honor. But, Carl is black and Sunday is white.

Problem.

“Two tablespoons of machine oil can contaminate an entire ship's fresh water supply.” – Mr. Pappy, commanding officer of the Navel Diving School.

In the scene above, Master Chief Billy Sunday rose from his dive and began to disassemble the 200 pounds of gear a Navy Diver must wear. When another diver is accidentally pushed over the side, Billy Sunday gets up and wants to dive down after him.

“He’ll be dead before you get to him!” Sunday yells.

Risking his life and showing enormous integrity, he grabs an air hose prepares to dive, yet the films villain, Lt. Hanks (David Conrad) stops him. He orders him to not dive, but Billy Sunday – knowing what’s a stake – salutes his commanding offers and dives regardless.

This action is why Billy Sunday teaches at the Navy School. He suffered a major injury and cannot dive anymore, thus can only teach students about his true love.

It was the only thing he wanted to do. It’s the only thing Carl wanted to do.

This film about going after your dreams in spite of your race or character. Carl is faced with oppression and hate throughout his diving school experienced, but his will and desire even turns Master Chief Sunday into a believer - not only in Carl, but also himself.

These two eventually become friends and after a freak accident, Carl will need Master Chief Sunday to get back on his “feet” again.

We are not all Men of Honor, which is why we need these films to remind us what they are. These men are heroes. They are servicemen. And they show the world how to do what is right.

To Master Chief Carl Brashear and Master Chief Billy Sunday, you are truly heroes.

We salute you.