Merle Smith
Merle James Smith was the second African-American to be appointed to attend the Coast Guard academy, and, in 1966, was the first to graduate.[1][2][3]
Smith was named after his father, a Colonel in the United States Army. His wife Jo-Ann Henry, was the daughter of Oliver Henry, a retired Chief Warrant Officer]], the first African-American to transfer from being a Mess Steward to a technical discipline.
Smith's first command was the USCGC Cape Wash. Smith served in Vietnam, where he earned a Bronze Star. Smith retired a Lieutenant Commander.
After his retirement from the Coast Guard Smith worked in the legal department of Electric Boat, a key manufacturer of nuclear submarines.[4]
The Academy renamed its Officer's Club after Smith in 2020.[4]
References
- ↑ William Theissen. "Oliver Henry - Warrior, Leader, Trailblazer". Maritime Executive. https://www.maritime-executive.com/editorials/oliver-henry-warrior-leader-trailblazer.
- ↑ Jean E. Henry (October 1998). "Letters". Ebony magazine: p. 14. https://books.google.ca/books?id=qwUDRnr2e-AC&pg=PA14&dq=%22Oliver+Henry%22+USCG+OR+%22Coast+guard%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi24OXqnevqAhWHgnIEHSKqCYMQ6AEwAHoECAEQAg#v=onepage&q=%22Oliver%20Henry%22%20USCG%20OR%20%22Coast%20guard%22&f=false. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
- ↑ William H. Thiesen. "Pioneers of Ethnic Diversity in the American Sea Services". U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office. p. 65. http://www.uscg.mil/history/articles/Bulletin_HistoryLesson_Oct_11.pdf. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Merle Smith, first Black graduate of Coast Guard Academy, dies at 76". Washington Post. 2021-06-23. Archived from the original on 2021-06-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20210623192511if_/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/merle-smith-coast-guard-dead/2021/06/23/d135959e-d449-11eb-ae54-515e2f63d37d_story.html. Retrieved 2021-07-01. "Cmdr. Smith commanded a cutter in Vietnam, taught law classes at the Coast Guard Academy in New London and retired from active-duty service in 1979 before joining the legal staff of submarine builder Electric Boat."
