Merle Smith, 1st Black graduate of Coast Guard Academy, dies
abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/merl…
NEW LONDON, Conn. — Merle Smith Jr., the first Black cadet to graduate from the Coast Guard Academy, has died, his family said. He was 76. Smith died on June 16 of complications from Parkinson’s disease and COVID-19. #Covid #76 #FirstBlackGrad #CoastGuardAcademy #Classof66 #NewLondon #CT #GWLaw #2021