Merlin O'Neill
| Merlin O'Neill | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
30 October 1898 Gallia County, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | 1 March 1981 (aged 82) Patuxent River, Maryland, U.S. |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America
|
| Service/branch | |
| Years of service | 1921–1954 |
| Rank |
 Vice admiral
|
| Commands held | Commandant of the Coast Guard |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards |
 Legion of Merit
|
Merlin O'Neill (30 October 1898 – 1 March 1981) served as the tenth Commandant of the United States Coast Guard from 1 January 1950 to 1 June 1954.
Born in North Kenova, Ohio, in 1898, O'Neill was commissioned in the United States Coast Guard in 1921. He served on a number of vessels, including his first command, the USS Ericsson. In 1927, he began a three-year period as an instructor at the United States Coast Guard Academy before returning to sea in command of the USCGC Monaghan, in 1930. From 1935, he held a number of positions at Coast Guard Headquarters. During World War II he participated in Allied amphibious landings in Morocco and Sicily. Assistant Commandant from 1946, he was appointed Commandant of the Coast Guard in 1950 and retired in 1954 with the rank of admiral.
O'Neill was born in North Kenova, Ohio, on 30 October 1898. He graduated from Morgan City High School in Morgan City, Louisiana, and then attended Western Kentucky State Normal School in 1916 and 1917. While preparing for the United States Coast Guard Academy entrance examinations O'Neill attended the Marion Military Institute in Marion, Alabama. He was appointed a cadet at the Academy in July 1918 and in March 1921, he graduated and was commissioned as a Coast Guard ensign.
Newly commissioned as an ensign, O'Neill reported aboard the USCGC Gresham, homeported at New York City for his first assignment in April 1921. While assigned to the Gresham he was promoted to lieutenant junior grade on 14 November 1921. In April 1922 he transferred to Seattle, Washington, to serve aboard the USCGC Haida whose primary area of operation was in the Bering Sea. O'Neill participated in two long Bering Sea patrols while assigned to the Haida before transferring to the USCGC Algonquin in 1924. Algonquin also patrolled the Bering Sea and O'Neill served one long patrol before returning to the Atlantic coast. He served a short time aboard the USCGC Mojave before being detailed to the Philadelphia Navy Yard to help with the conversion of the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Ericsson to Coast Guard duty for the suppression of smuggling. After Ericsson was commissioned in May 1925, O'Neill was assigned as the executive officer. He was promoted to lieutenant on 10 September 1925 while continuing to serve as the cutter's executive officer. O'Neill assumed command of Ericsson for a short time before he was assigned to the Coast Guard Academy staff as an instructor in September 1927. He was promoted to lieutenant commander on 7 March 1929.
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