Coast Guard reveals new cutter

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) - The Coast Guard unveiled its most advanced cutter Wednesday, named after the first African American to lead a life-saving station in the U.S.

The Coast Guard Cutter Richard Etheridge, bears the name of a man born into slavery in January of 1842. Etheridge became captain and was appointed keeper of the Pea Island Life Saving Station 38 years later.

Today, the newest and most advanced cutter in the Coast Guard's fleet proudly bears Etheridge's name. The Cutter Richard Etheridge is equipped with state-of-the-art command and control technology. 

Etheridge was one of the most skilled surfmen at a time when the fife saving service was in need of both leadership and skill.

"After a series of blunders by the Life Saving Service in the mid-1800s, the commandant of the service basically came down to the Outer Banks and said, 'Enough of the cronyism. We need the best people to serve in these jobs.' And white and black alike pointed to Richard Etheridge as the guy who was the best at what he did," said Commander Christian Lee. "They appointed an all-black crew to serve under him because they wouldn't have a white person working for an African-American at the time."

Etheridge and his all-black crew distinguished themselves most notably in 1896 with the daring rescue of a schooner crew in peril during an October Hurricane on the Outer Banks.

They successfully rescued all aboard but it took another 100 years before Ehteridge and his crew were awarded the Coast Guard's Gold Life Saving Metal.