36. Dealing With Antisemitism in the Navy
Jews being relatively few in America back then, and quite rare in the Navy, Levy faced considerable anti-Semitism. He loathed to tolerate it. His reactions to insults got him court-martialed six times, demoted from the rank of captain once, and kicked out of the Navy twice – although he was reinstated both times.
He eventually became commander of the Mediterranean Squadron – a position that came with a promotion to commodore. At the time, it was the Navy’s highest rank.