James S. Gracey

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James S. Gracey (born August 24, 1927) served as the seventeenth Commandant of the United States Coast Guard from 1982 to 1986.

James Steele Gracey was born in Newton, Massachusetts and is the son of Ernest J. Gracey and Edna S. Gracey. Following graduation from high school in Needham, Massachusetts, he accepted an appointment to the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. While a cadet at the Academy, he served as Battalion Commander and captain of the baseball team. Furthermore, he was a member of the soccer and rifle teams. Following graduation in June, 1949, he agreed to remain at the Academy until the following September as a tactical instructor. From 1951 to 1953, he was stationed at the Port Office in Boston, Massachusetts.

Gracey served in a number of Flag Officer assignments prior to becoming Commandant, including Commander of the Cleveland, Ohio-based Ninth Coast Guard District, with responsibility for the Great Lakes area, Commander of San Francisco, California-based 12th Coast Guard District, with responsibility for the Pacific Ocean area, and Commander of the Governors Island, New York-based Atlantic Area, with responsibility for the US Eastern seaboard and Gulf Coast.