This is the first program in the Setting Sail: The Story of Sea Cloud exhibition lecture series. 

In 1942, Marjorie Post and her third husband, Joseph Davies, lent their yacht, Sea Cloud, to the United States Coast Guard, in which it served as a weather ship during World War II. Post said, “Since I have no son to give to the war, I will offer the Sea Cloud.” 

Join Master Chief Vince Patton for an evening exploring Sea Cloud's role in Coast Guard history and the story of Captain Carlton Skinner, who commanded Sea Cloud during WWII. Under Captain Skinner, Sea Cloud became the first racially integrated military unit from 1943 to 1944, prior to the official elimination of segregation in the U.S. Armed Forces in 1948. The Sea Cloud included African American officers, as well as enlisted crewmembers, such as famous artist Jacob Lawrence.

Ken W. Sayers will introduce this event via a pre-recorded video. Copies of his book, Tales of the Sea Cloud: Luxury Yacht, Integrated Naval Vessel, Legendary Ship are available for purchase in the museum store.

HYBRID PROGRAM 

This lecture will be presented in the theater in the Ellen MacNeille Charles Visitor Center and will be livestreamed via Zoom. Visitors can submit questions for the speaker from any location. 

IN-PERSON TIMELINE

5:30–6:30 p.m. | Explore Hillwood

• Enjoy Hillwood’s mansion, gardens,  greenhouse, and exhibition, Setting Sail: The Story of Sea Cloud, on view in the dacha
• Find the perfect memento from your visit at the museum shop. Copies of Ken Sayers' book, Tales of the Sea Cloud: Luxury Yacht, Integrated Naval Vessel, Legendary Ship are available for purchase in the museum store. You can also purchase the book by clicking here!

6:30–7:30 p.m. | Lecture 

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

A native of Detroit, MI, Master Chief Vince Patton enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard in 1972 and retired in 2002.

During Master Chief Patton’s Coast Guard career, he served on three cutters along with operational, training and administrative assignments, including a joint service tour as the senior enlisted advisor to Joint Task Force-160 during Operation Support Democracy, and command senior enlisted leadership positions. The pinnacle of his military career was becoming the highest-ranking enlisted member of the service as the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard, 1998-2002. Among his numerous military awards includes the Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal, which is the highest peacetime recognition for performance of duty.

His academic achievements include earning a Doctor of Education degree from the American University, Washington DC, which is dissertation was based on the development and implementation of the Coast Guard Enlisted Evaluation System.

Currently, he is president of Northeast Maritime Institute Foundation and is also an adjunct faculty member at Northeast Maritime Institute College of Maritime Science. He is actively involved with several other public service and nonprofit organizations serving on boards with the National Coast Guard Museum, U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps and the Uniformed Services Benefit Association.

Images are courtesy of the speaker.