- Manufactured by
- Jacob Reed's Sons, American, 1824 - 1983
- Worn by
- CMDR Smith, Merle J. Jr., American, died 2021
- Subject of
- United States Coast Guard, American, founded 1790
- Date
- ca. 1966
- Medium
- wool (textile) with leather, metal, thread and plastic
- Dimensions
- H x W x D: 31 3/4 × 19 1/2 in. (80.6 × 49.5 cm)
- Caption
- Commander Merle J. Smith, Jr. became the first African American graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy in 1966. While serving in Vietnam as a cutter commander, Smith became the first African American to command a U.S. warship in close-quarters combat and was awarded the Bronze Star for actions in 1969.
- Description
- A black USCG Academy Cade Parade Dress Blue jacket with two columns of gold buttons down the front. Eighteen buttons in total are sewn to the front of the jacket. The collar is piped in gold with two anchors attached to either side of the front of the collar. The anchors face out toward the shoulders. On either cuff is a small gold band above which is a gold stylized United States shield. At the back of each cuff are three gold buttons vertically stitched up the sleeve. Inside the left side near the front is a label in yellow print stitched to the interior lining that reads "TAILORED FOR THE/ UNITED STATES/ COAST GUARD/ ACADEMY/ by Jacob Reed's Sons/ FINE UNIFORMS - SINCE 1824."
- Place used
- New London, New London County, Connecticut, United States, North and Central America
- Classification
- Clothing - Military Uniforms
- Type
- uniforms
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Merle J. Smith, Jr.
- Object number
- 2014.32.2
- Restrictions & Rights
- No Known Copyright Restrictions
- Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




