OTHER MEDIUM ENDURANCE CUTTERS———————————————————————

USCGC ALEX HALEY (WMEC-39)
Kodiak, AK
283’ Medium Endurance Cutter
Coast Guard’s Largest
Medium Endurance Cutter

USCGC ALEX HALEY (WMEC-39) was originally commissioned by the U.S. Navy on 23 March 1971 as the USS Edenton (ATS-1), an Edenton-class salvage and rescue ship. She was decommissioned on 29 March 1996, acquired by the U.S. Coast Guard, and underwent an extensive conversion from a salvage ship to a Coast Guard cutter.  USCGC ALEX HALEY (WMEC-39) was commissioned on 10 July 1999 and, at 283-feet long, became the Coast Guard’s largest medium endurance cutter.

USCGC ALEX HALEY (WMEC-39) is named after Alex Haley, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of the 1976 novel Roots: The Saga of an American Family.  Prior to World War II, he enlisted into the Coast Guard and served as a mess attendant.  Haley then advanced to Petty Officer Third Class in the Steward rating, one of the few enlisted ratings open to Black personnel at that time.  After the war ended, he petitioned the Coast Guard successfully to allow him to transfer into the field of journalism.  Haley eventually advanced to Chief Petty Officer and held this rank until his retirement in 1959 after 20 years of service.

Chief Petty Officer Haley was the first African-American to advance to Chief Petty Officer and was also the first-ever chief journalist in the Coast Guard, the rating having been created specificaly for him in recognition of his literary talent.

The Chief Journalist Alex Haley Awards are also named in honor of Chief Petty Officer Haley. These awards are presented annually and recognize the outstanding achievements of Coast Guard public affairs units and members whose efforts and published works have helped raise the visibility of the Coast Guard.

USCGC ALEX HALEY (WMEC-39)