Merlin O’Neill

48
Merlin O'Neill bigraphy, stories - Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, 1949–1954

Merlin O’Neill : biography

October 30, 1898 – March 1, 1981

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 . In 1927, he began a three year period as an instructor at the 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.

Retirement

O’Neill retired from the Coast Guard on 1 June 1954 with the rank of admiral. His decorations included the Legion of Merit, awarded for exceptionanally meritorious conduct during the invasion of Sicily. After retiring from active duty Admiral O’Neill resided in Lusby, Maryland. O’Neill died of cardiac arrest 1 March 1981 at the Naval Hospital at Patuxent River Naval Air Station. He was survived by his wife, Esther, and two daughters. The Admiral Merlin O’Neill Award was established by the Military Officers Association of America Southern Maryland Chapter at the behest of O’Neill’s widow, Mrs. Esther O’Neill. O’Neill, who was recognized for his interest in the development and recognition of junior officers, moved to southern Maryland after his retirement and lived in the area until his death in 1981.

References cited

Notes

Footnotes
Citations

World War II service

USS Leonard Wood (APA-12) In October 1942, O’Neill assumed command of the Coast Guard manned Harris-class attack transport which was practicing landings at Hampton Roads, Virginia, for the invasion of North Africa.Scheina, pp 299–300 Leonard Wood departed Hampton Roads on 24 October and participated in the landings at Fedhala, French Morocco, on 7 November.USS Leonard Wood, Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS) In late November, Leonard Wood returned to the United States for repairs and training. While at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, O’Neill was promoted to captain on 10 December 1942. As skipper of Leonard Wood O’Neill also particated in the Allied invasion of Sicily in July 1943, where he was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services during the landings. After Leonard Wood was transferred to the Pacific theater, O’Neill participated in the landings in the Gilbert Islands in November 1943 and Marshall Islands in February 1944. He was transferred in July 1944 to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, as the commanding officer of the Coast Guard Amphibious Training Unit, but a month later he received orders assigning him to head the Baltimore Section of the Fifth Coast Guard District. Early in 1945, he was assigned to Coast Guard Headquarters as the Assistant Chief of the Finance and Supply Division. On 1 June 1945, O’Neill was promoted to commodore and assigned as Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District.

Early career

The newly minted Ensign O’Neill reported aboard the , 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 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 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 before being detailed to the Philadelphia Navy Yard to help with the conversion of the US Navy destroyer 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.