May 31, 2006 — Third Class Coast Guard Cadet Urdley Smith Jr. from St. Thomas recently had the honor of meeting newly sworn in Coast Guard Commandant, Adm. Thad Allen, aboard the CGC Barque Eagle.
Smith is the son of Urdley and Margarita Smith of St. Thomas and a 2004 Charlotte Amalie High School Honors graduate.
Adm. Allen assumed the duties of Commandant of the Coast Guard on May 25, to serve as the service's 23rd commandant, replacing Adm. Thomas H. Collins. Allen, who served as the federal point man during the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, has become the face of the Coast Guard for many through his appearances on media outlets while leading the coordination and response.
During the commandant's change of command, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Eagle and its crew of future officers were anchored just off Fort McNair, where the ceremony was held. Cadet Smith had a bird's eye view of the ceremony, as he manned the starboard shroud, above the deck of the Eagle.
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