This was largest number of Black American 4/c cadets to ever enter the United States Coast Guard Academy (CGA) in a single class. (In the picture above)
Did anyone receive any Medals for that Historic Achievement? No! Not one. Not even a Coast Guard Achievement Medal was awarded to anyone.
Not before London Steverson; or, after London Steverson?
Black Officer contributions to the Coast Guard have been ignored!
Since 1876, the CGA had never seen so many Black Americans enter in one Class, until London Steverson started the Minority Recruiting Program.
He could still be awarded The Coast Guard Achievement Medal!
If anyone of the woke new-breed of Coast Guard Admirals is paying attention, now is the time to right an old wrong. These vintage Black American Trail Blazers are passing away. You can still do the right thing, for the right reason.
In 1964 the Coast Guard Officer Corps was 99.44 percent white. Less than one-half of one percent of the officer corps was Black Americans. It was comprised of Black enlisted men who had been promoted to chief warrant officers (CWO). They were men like CWO Oliver T Henry. A Coast Guard Cutter was recently named in his honor.
In 1973 the percentage of Black officers was still below one percent, but progress had been made, chiefly through the efforts of London Steverson and others.
In July 1972 LT London Steverson was reassigned from CCGD7(O) Juneau, Alaska to Washington, D.C. He became the Chief of G-PMR-3, Office of Personnel, Coast Guard Headquarters, 400 D Street, SW, Washington, D.C., 20591 in the John Volpe Building under the Department of Transportation. He was charged with working toward desegregating the nearly all-white US Coast Guard, starting with the United States Coast Guard Academy. He became the Chief of the newly formed Minority Recruiting Section (G-PMR-3),
From 1876 until 1962 the Academy had not admitted any Black American cadets. One graduated in 1966 (Merle James Smith III), two graduated in 1968 (Kenny Boyd and London Steverson) and one graduated in 1970 (Willie Pickrum). Merle Smith has passed away. Willie Pickrum has passed away.
Steverson's efforts were rewarded in 1973 when 28 Black cadets were sworn into the Class of 1977, and again in 1974 when 20 Black cadets were admitted as part of the Class of 1978. It was from these cadets that the Coast Guard's first African-American officers of flag rank were to come in the 1990's; officers such as Admiral Errol Brown and Three Star Vice Admiral Manson K. Brown.
1973 Conference of Minority Recruiters
One of the first things that he did when he took over as Chief of the Minority Recruiting Branch (G-PMR-3) was to convene a conference of all of the Minority Recruiters from every district in the continental USA. It was important to see who they were and what they were doing. He wanted to make sure they were all marching to the beat of the same drum, that they all understood what the mandate was, and that they all knew who was running the show. He wanted their loyalty, and their dedication to the mission. Most of all, he wanted them to know that a new day had dawned and he would not be satisfied with business as usual. LTJG Milt Moore in St. Louis was assigned the task of organizing and hosting the Conference in St. Louis. They all came; Charles Harper from Detroit, Gil Montoya from Los Angeles, Chief Lee Leyba from Albuquerque, Victor Jernigan,LT Percy Norwood, LT Earl Martin from Headquarters, Vince Chavez, and others.
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