PENSACOLA, Fla. – Retired U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Phillip Brashear, son of retired U.S. Navy Master Chief Carl Brashear, visited Corry Station June 14, 2023 in part of a week-long speaking tour on Naval Air Station Pensacola.

Brashear, president of the Carl Brashear Foundation, travels the country spreading his father’s message of determination and resiliency by speaking about the “Five Hurdles,” that his father overcame: racism, illiteracy, poverty, physical disability, and substance abuse; as a way to inspire service members, civilians, and veterans to persevere through their challenges as well.

“My father never gave up,” said Brashear. “He would say, ‘it’s not a sin to get knocked down, it’s a sin to stay down.’”

Brashear spoke to staff members from the Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT) as well as staff and students assigned to Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) Corry Station at the base chapel. During his presentations, he shared photos and stories of his father’s naval service and his own Navy and Army service with the underlining message of perseverance.

Brashear told the story of his late father Carl Brashear from early adolescence to his passing in July of 2006. One of the stories he shared was from during his time in service right before his father’s death.

“Halfway through my Iraq tour I received a Red Cross message because my dad was critically ill,” said Brashear. “I got off the plane in Norfolk and rushed over to the Portsmouth Naval Hospital and get to my dad’s room.”

Brashear said his father had past medical scares, but had always recovered, so initially he didn’t think much of this trip to the hospital. When he arrived he started talking about his experience as a helicopter pilot in Iraq and the stressful conditions he worked under, heat, enemy fire, and high operations tempo.
 
His father looked at him and said, “Son, what the hell are you complaining about?”

Brashear said that if he could have, his father would have traded places with him and gone out there and continued to serve his country. Looking back, he said recalls thinking to himself he had no right to complain about his duty to the nation.

“When you think you got it bad,” said Brashear, “I caution you, there’s always someone else that has is worse than you.”

His father didn’t make it out of the hospital this time, and five days later he passed away.

Brashear went on to share about his experiences upon returning to duty, flying several celebrities around who were overseas visiting the troops. He also shared that after completing that tour of duty he wanted to be done with the stress and danger he experienced while serving as a helicopter pilot, and retired from the Army National Guard.

However, he felt that there was still more that he could give, and two years later he joined the Army Reserve where he finished out his 40-year military career in 2022.

After speaking at the chapel, Brashear visited the Gold Coast Café Dining Facility, better known as the galley, where he met with 12 junior enlisted Sailors, assigned to IWTC Corry Station. At the luncheon, Brashear answered questions, mentored students, and encouraged them to fully maximize their naval careers by seizing opportunities to expand their education, use their benefits, and travel.

“Everyone should leave the military with some kind of higher education,” said Brashear. “whether you’re in for four years or forty, make your education work for you.”
 
Cryptologic Technician Collection Seaman Kaileigh Hotchkiss, student assigned to IWTC Corry Station, said, “his [Brashear’s] way of speaking is very motivational. He gave us really good advice and encouraged us to utilize all the resources the Navy has to offer.”
 
Phillip Brashear and his brother DaWayne continue to share their father’s story through speaking engagements, videos, and through the foundation’s website, www.carlbrashearfoundation.org.