The Virgin Islands Veterans Association (VIVA) proudly honors the legacy of Chief Petty Officer Alton Augustus Adams, Sr. (November 4, 1889 – November 23, 1987), a Virgin Islands native whose military and musical achievements broke barriers in American history.

Born in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, Adams founded the St. Thomas Juvenile Band in 1910. When the United States purchased the Virgin Islands from Denmark in 1917, Adams and his entire band were inducted into the U.S. Navy, making them the first African Americans to receive official Navy musical appointments since the War of 1812 and establishing Adams as the Navy’s first Black bandmaster. He served as Chief Petty Officer, one of the earliest Black sailors to hold that rate.

In 1942, while stationed at Guantánamo Bay, Adams created the first racially integrated band sanctioned by the U.S. Navy, reinstating Black bandsmen alongside white sailors. He retired from the Navy in 1945 after serving from 1917–1934 and 1942–1947, and went on to become a journalist, hotelier, educator, and civic leader in the Virgin Islands.

In 2012, the U.S. Navy dedicated the Adams Building at Naval Support Activity Mid-South in his honor. His memoirs were published by the University of California Press in 2008.

VIVA continues to celebrate the contributions of Virgin Islands veterans like Adams whose service advanced both national defense and civil rights.

About VIVA

The Virgin Islands Veterans Association, Inc. (VIVA) is a Virginia nonstock nonprofit corporation established on April 2, 2026, to serve all who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, with special emphasis on veterans from or residing in the U.S. Virgin Islands and those in its mainland diaspora. Guided by the values of Honor, Service, and Community, VIVA connects veterans with resources, strengthens community partnerships, and honors their service and legacy. Learn more at veteransvi.org.