Merlin O'Neill

Merlin O'Neill

Vice Admiral Merlin O'Neill
Born Gallia County, Ohio
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Revenue Cutter Service
United States Coast Guard
Years of service 1921-1954
Rank Vice Admiral
Commands held Commandant of the Coast Guard
Battles/wars World War II

Merlin O'Neill (1898–1981) served as the tenth Commandant of the United States Coast Guard from 1949 to 1954.

He was born in Gallia County, Ohio on October 30, 1898. Following graduation from high school in Morgan City, Louisiana, he attended Western Kentucky State Normal School, and the Marion Military Institute in Marion, Alabama. In 1921, he graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, where he had served as an instructor from 1927 to 1929, and as Commandant of Cadets from 1929 to 1930. From 1930 to 1935, he commanded a series of Coast Guard cutters, as part of Commandant Frederick C. Billard's heightened anti-smuggling efforts. From 1946 until his appointment as Commandant, he served as Assistant Commandant of the Coast Guard.

References

Military offices
Preceded by
Joseph F. Farley
Commandant of the Coast Guard
1949—1954
Succeeded by
Alfred C. Richmond
Preceded by
Lloyd T. Chalker
Assistant Commandant of the Coast Guard
1946—1949
Succeeded by
Alfred C. Richmond