Editor’s note: The Dart is a weekly feature, where reporters throw a dart at a map of Selma to find a random location for a story.

Retired Navy Chief Petty Officer Jerry Murry dedicated about 20 years of service to the U.S. Navy, but earned little respect from much of his fellow servicemen.

When Selma native Murry committed to the Navy in  1942, he did not expect to deal with similar racial discrimination as what he experienced residing in Selma.

“Everything was segregated,” Murry said. “We had our compartments and the white people had theirs. I didn’t know that before I went in the Navy, but it didn’t really make any difference, because it was the only life that I knew.”

Murry recalled when other servicemen called him racist names on several occasions, the racially-charged fights that would break out because of it.

“If the ship goes into war, you would get killed just like the other one would get killed,” Murry said. “We should have all had the same respect for each other.”

Although Murry never agreed with the unfair treatment he faced, the lessons his parents gave him about living in an era where racism was socially acceptable taught him how to endure it.

“Regardless of where I went, those lessons were still a part of me,” Murry said. “That’s why I went through with it, and I could take it. Although it sometimes took me to the point where I really didn’t like it, I knew it was nothing I could do about it.”

Murry relied on his parents’ teachings and friends he met in the Navy to keep him calm during some of his toughest times.

Instead of dwelling on the equality, he kept his mind on his mission to continually rate higher in the Navy.

“Have you ever seen how when you mistreat a dog, it tucks his tail and runs off?” Murry asked. “That’s what I used to do. There’s nothing you can do about it, so it’s better to take it and go about your business. In the next two or three months or so, when a rate came up, you had a good chance in making another step in the rating.”

After years of seeing America transform into a more racially tolerant nation, the veteran has started to realize just how triumphant it was for him to continue his service, despite the hardships.

Murry said he wants current generations to take advantage of all the opportunities made possible by the sacrifices of those before them.

“I’m glad that I’ve overcome that,” Murry said. “If I could overcome that, I don’t see why it’s so hard for young people to now get an education and get whatever you need now, because it’s all out there.”