Leon Claude Covell (December 2, 1877 – November 20, 1960) was a

Rear Admiral Rear admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, equivalent to a major general and air vice marshal and above that of a commodore and captain, but below that of a vice admiral. It is regarded as a two star "admiral" rank. It is often regarde ...

in the United States Coast Guard who served as the 2nd Vice Commandant from 1931 to 1941. Covell was promoted to first lieutenant on January 28, 1909. During World War I, he briefly commanded in November 1917 before commanding USS ''Mackinac'' from November 25, 1917 to January 7, 1918. Covell was promoted to lieutenant commander on July 1, 1920 and assigned as the commanding officer of USCGC ''Gresham'' on November 24, 1920. Covell was promoted to commander on April 21, 1924 and assigned as the commanding officer of USCGC ''Bear'' on November 1, 1924. He was assigned as the first commanding officer of on November 8, 1928. Covell was promoted to captain on July 1, 1929 and assigned as the first commanding officer of on December 15, 1930. Having participated in the Bering Sea Patrol since 1925, he was given command of the patrol force during the summer of 1931. Covell was appointed assistant commandant on December 19, 1931 and promoted to rear admiral on May 24, 1939. Covell retired effective January 1, 1942 after Lloyd T. Chalker was appointed to succeed him on October 9, 1941. He was recalled to active duty in June 1943 to head the Coast Guard Training Station at Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn. Covell was later awarded the

Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight ...

for his World War II service. Covell retired as a rear admiral but was advanced to vice admiral on the retired list several years later.

Personal

His younger brother

William E. R. Covell William Edward Raab Covell (29 November 1892 – 16 August 1975) was an officer in the U.S. Army from 1915 to 1940 and from 1941 to 1946. His highest rank held was major general. Early life and education Covell was born on 29 November 1892 ...

attended the U.S. Military Academy, graduating first out of 164 cadets in the class the stars fell on and retiring from the U.S. Army as a major general. His son Leon Claude Covell Jr. (November 30, 1914 – September 30, 1995) was a supply officer in the

U.S. Naval Reserve The United States Navy Reserve (USNR), known as the United States Naval Reserve from 1915 to 2005, is the Reserve Component (RC) of the United States Navy. Members of the Navy Reserve, called Reservists, are categorized as being in either the Se ...

who served during both World War II and the Korean War, retiring as a commander.

References

1877 births 1960 deaths United States Coast Guard admirals Recipients of the Legion of Merit Burials at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery Vice Commandants of the United States Coast Guard {{USCG-bio-stub