R 022321Z JUN 10

ALCOAST 284/10
COMDTNOTE 5360
SUBJ: DEATH OF RETIRED FLAG OFFICER
A. UNITED STATES COAST GUARD REGULATIONS 1992, COMDTINST M5000.3B
1. THE COMMANDANT ANNOUNCES WITH REGRET THE DEATH OF VICE ADMIRAL
THOMAS REECE SARGENT III, USCG, RETIRED, ON SATURDAY 29 MAY 2010 IN
LAKE SAN MARCOS, CA. VADM SARGENT RETIRED 1 JULY 1974.
2. BORN IN WOOLWICH, PLUMSTEAD, JUST SOUTH OF LONDON, ENGLAND ON 20
DECEMBER 1914, VICE ADMIRAL SARGENT IMMIGRATED TO THE UNITED STATES
IN 1922, COMING THROUGH ELLIS ISLAND, NEW YORK, AND FINALLY
ARRIVING IN NEW LONDON, CT. HE GRADUATED FROM BULKELEY HIGH SCHOOL,
NEW LONDON, CT IN 1933. HE GRADUATED FROM THE U.S. COAST GUARD
ACADEMY, NEW LONDON, CT ON 2 JUNE 1938 WITH A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
DEGREE AND LATER OBTAINED A MASTERS DEGREE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING
FROM RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE.
3. HE SERVED A GOOD PORTION OF HIS LONG AND DISTINGUISHED CAREER AT
SEA ABOARD THE CUTTERS MODOC AS A LINE OFFICER AND ASSISTANT
ENGINEER, BIBB (WPG-31) AS EXECUTIVE OFFICER CONDUCTING GREENLAND
PATROLS JUST PRIOR TO THE U.S. ENTRY INTO WWII, AND WINNEBAGO
(WPG-40) AS COMMANDING OFFICER. DURING WORLD WAR II HE SERVED IN
THE COAST GUARD-CREWED NAVY SUB-CHASER USS PC-469 AS EXECUTIVE AND
COMMANDING OFFICER, THE CUTTER DUANE (WPG-33) AS CHIEF ENGINEER
OFFICER AND THE USS SANDUSKY (PF-54) (PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN) AS
COMMANDING OFFICER WHERE HE WAS AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL WITH
COMBAT V DEVICE. HE ALSO SERVED AS THE CIVIL ENGINEERING PROJECT
MANAGER FOR THE LONG RANGE AIDS TO NAVIGATION SYSTEM (LORAN), AND
TRAVELLED THE WORLD CONDUCTING PRELIMINARY SITE SURVEYS TO SET UP
THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING CONSTRUCTION OF THE LORAN STATION CHAIN IN
VIETNAM AND THAILAND. AS CIVIL ENGINEER OF THE COAST GUARD, HE WAS
A MEMBER OF THE TEAM THAT DESIGNED AND APPROVED THE DISTINCTIVE RED
AND BLUE COAST GUARD RACING STRIPE. TODAY, THIS NOW FAMOUS SLASH
APPEARS THROUGHOUT THE COAST GUARD AND IS EMULATED BY COAST GUARDS
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. HE WAS PROMOTED TO REAR ADMIRAL ON 1 JULY
1967 AND SERVED AS THE COMMANDER OF THE ELEVENTH COAST GUARD
DISTRICT AND THEN AS CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE COAST GUARD AT COAST
GUARD HEADQUARTERS. HE WAS PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF VICE ADMIRAL ON
26 MAY 1970 AND SERVED AS THE ELEVENTH VICE COMMANDANT OF THE COAST
GUARD WITH COMMANDANT CHESTER R. BENDER FROM 1970 TO 1974. HIS
OTHER MILITARY DECORATIONS INCLUDE THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL
AND THE LEGION OF MERIT. MORE INFORMATION ON VADM SARGENTS
DISTINGUISHED CAREER IS CONTAINED WITHIN HIS ORAL HISTORY WHICH IS
POSTED ON THE U.S. COAST GUARDHISTORIAN WEBSITE, AT
HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/HISTORY/.
4. VADM SARGENT IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE LUCY, THREE SONS, 7
GRANDCHILDREN, AND 11 GREAT GRANDCHILDREN. BURIAL WILL BE AT
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY WITH FULL MILITARY HONORS. THE DATE OF
BURIAL IS NOT YET KNOWN. AN ORDER TO HALF-MAST THE NATIONAL ENSIGN
IAW ARTICLE 14-10-2 OF REF A WILL BE ISSUED ONCE THE BURIAL DATE IS
DETERMINED. IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, THE SARGENT FAMILY REQUESTS THAT
DONATIONS BE MADE TO THE COAST GUARD FOUNDATION.
5. RELEASED BY ADMIRAL BOB PAPP, COMMANDANT.
6. INTERNET RELEASED AUTHORIZED.