Rear Admiral Raymond Thomas McElligott, United States Coast Guard, was born in San Francisco, Calif. on September 2, 1896, the son of William and Mary Daly McElligott. After receiving his grade and high school education in San Francisco, he attended St. Ignatius College in that city for two years and Cogswell Polytechnic College, also in San Francisco, for three years. During this period he attended the University of California for two summers. Appointed a cadet in the U.S. Coast Guard on August 1, 1916, he received a commission as an ensign on August 18, 1918.
His first assignment was to the New York Division, where he assisted in training recruits and also was assigned to duty under the Captain of the Port of New York. Early in 1919 he was transferred to duty on the cutter Bear and served on this ship until October, 1921, when he was assigned to the cutter Tampa. Detached from the Tampa in 1924, he was placed on duty at the Coast Guard Academy, New London, Conn., where he became Commandant of Cadets and also served as instructor in Physics and Tactics.
From September, 1927, to May, 1929, he was attached to the Haida, Seattle, Wash., as executive officer, and then was transferred to Oakland, Calif., where he assisted in outfitting and assembling a crew for the new cutter Itasca. When the Itasca was placed in commission in September of 1929, he became her executive officer and served aboard this ship, out of Honolulu, T.H., until January, 1932. His next assignment was that of commanding the destroyer Shaw, stationed at New York, N.Y. In September, 1932, he returned to the Coast Guard Academy, where he spend the next four years as instructor in physics and head of the physics department. During his last two years on this assignment he also served as Commandant of Cadets.
Upon leaving the Academy he took command of the Mohawk at Cape May, N.J. Detached from the Mohawk in July, 1937, he became commanding officer of the Champlain, at Stapleton, Staten Island, N.Y. At the termination of this tour of duty in May, 1940, he returned again to duty on the staff of the Coast Guard Academy. In February, 1943, he was assigned to Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington, D.C., and in November of the same year was placed on duty in connection with outfitting a Coast Guard manned assault transport. When the transport was commissioned in January, 1944, and placed on duty in the Pacific, he served as her commanding officer for the next 10 months. In December, 1944, he became assistant Chief Personnel officer at Coast Guard Headquarters, where he now serves. For service during the first World War, he was awarded the Victory Medal.
After receiving a commission as an ensign on August 18, 1918, he was promoted in rank as follows: lieutenant (jg), July 27, 1919; lieutenant, January 12, 1923; lieutenant commander, July 1, 1926; commander, July 1, 1938.
Rear Admiral Raymond T. McElligott was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for distinguishing himself as Commanding Officer of a transport during two assault landing operations against enemy-held islands in the Pacific during January and June, 1944. Text of the citation accompanying Commodore McElligott's award reads:
For distinguishing himself by meritorious achievement as Commanding Officer of a transport during two assault landing operations against enemy-held islands in the Pacific during January and June 1944. By his expert direction of training and operations of his ship and attached landing craft, he contributed largely to the success of the naval phase of the eminently successful attacks. His conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the naval service.
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