Lawrence Cleveland "Larry" Chambers (born June 10, 1929) is the first African American to command a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier and the first African-American graduate of the Naval Academy to reach flag rank.

[2] While in command of USS Midway during Operation Frequent Wind, Chambers gave the controversial order to push overboard millions of dollars' worth of UH-1 Huey helicopters so Republic of Vietnam Air Force Major Buang-Ly could land on the aircraft carrier in a Cessna O-1 Bird Dog with his wife and five children, thereby saving their lives.

Instead, when Nguyễn Cao Kỳ, the Vice President of South Vietnam, landed on the flight deck, Chambers figured the operation was underway.

On that same day, South Vietnamese air force major Buang-Ly loaded his wife and five children into a two-seat Cessna O-1 Bird Dog and took off from Con Son Island.

The Midway's crew attempted to contact the aircraft on emergency frequencies but the pilot continued to circle overhead with his landing lights turned on.

Captain Chambers recalled in an article in the Fall 1993 issue of the Naval Aviation Museum Foundatio's Foundation magazine that: the aircraft cleared the ramp and touched down on center line at the normal touchdown point.

He bounced once and came stop abeam of the island, amid a wildly cheering, arms-waving flight deck crew.Major Buang was escorted to the bridge, where Chambers congratulated him on his outstanding piloting and his bravery.

[11] On April 29, 2015, Chambers traveled to San Diego, California, to speak aboard USS Midway, now a museum ship open to the public, in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of Operation Frequent Wind.

[13] This annual event raises funds for the "San Diego Inner City Junior Golf Foundation", a nonprofit founded by Brown and his son.

The foundation offers inner-city youth the opportunity to learn golf and develop life skills, with proceeds from the event going toward scholarships for students.