The freshly inaugurated U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Melvin Bell is turning heads. His motto, “Signal of Hope” represents the legacy of the namesake originating in Hawaii. Melvin Bell transmitted the first alarms following the attack on Pearl Harbor and served 65 years in the military. The commissioning had remarks by the commanding officer of the CGC Melvin Bell, Lt. Patrick Kelly, and Melvin's son, Robert Bell. Bell's story of strength and determination will now live on, as his namesake will continue to serve our nation for years to come.Read next:Remembering Lou Conter, the Last USS Arizona Survivor

The Early Military Life of Minority Pioneer, Melvin Bell

Melvin Bell was born in Hawaii on January 25, 1920. He graduated from Hilo High School in 1938, and shortly after enlisted as a Mess Steward on the USCG Taney. At this time discrimination in the military structure was still present, and Melvin was aware. Minority groups such as Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders were even being denied higher positions, many worked in the mess branch as attendants. However, he was the first person of color to rank as Master Chief in the sea services, receiving honor and praise on March 28th at the Coast Guard Academy. At 98 years old, Melvin passed away. Robert Bell, a historian and Melvin's son mentioned, “He was an unknowing trailblazer. He joined the service knowing that he would have to really work hard and have some things go his way in order to achieve his goal of becoming a radioman.”

Advancing Up the Ladder and Fulfilling a Dream

Bell worked as a mess attendant when he first enlisted. In his off hours, he spent time in the radio room. Prior to that, he gained experience in radio electronics with his father at the Hawaiian Telephone Company and at a radio repair shop in Hilo.Robert discussed his father's influence in an interview saying, "He knowingly joined the service with a plan. He had prepared himself well, going into the field of electronics, that if an opportunity presented itself, he would take full advantage of that, and then it would be up to those who had the power and influence to make a decision,"Just a year later, a radio transmitter aboard his ship wasn't working and no one on board could figure out the problem. Melvin Bell asked if he could take a look, and of course, was able to repair it. The radioman said “Well, I want to meet this Bell.” Robert said those words changed his fathers life forever. The next day he met with Chief Anthony and was given the opportunity to test for the radioman position. He passed with flying colors. Related read: Pearl Harbor Survivors: Heroes That Should Never Be Forgotten

Making History Wasn't a Foreign Concept

Melvin Bell later went on to work at the Primary Radio Station Diamond Head. Here, he transmitted the first radio alarms of the attack on Pearl Harbor. He worked in Naval intelligence with Fleet Radio Unit Pacific was even part of the section that broke the JN25 code which supported the victory at Midway in 1942.Later in 1958, he was promoted to Master Chief after 20 years of active service. He was the first person of color to get that rank in the history of sea service. Following that, Bell took a civil service position with the Honolulu Coast Guard in 1959. He retired from the service after 65 years in 2004. President George W. Bush honored him for his “unprecedented 65 year federal career.”Robert noted that his father began working prior to World War II and ended during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. His dad did not speak much of the things he accomplished, but Robert thought it was necessary for the Coast Guard to know his story.“We had an idea of some of the things which he had participated in, like Pearl Harbor and other things like codebreaking, but I didn't really know that much about his life until I started to sit down with him the last 30 years of his life and interview him,” Robert said.Considering how many people died at Pearl Harbor, 2403 to be exact, his service is a big deal. You may be wondering, “Why did Japan attack Pearl Harbor?” The attack was influenced by political self-interests and America's embargo policy. Visits to the Pearl Harbor Memorial can be made to learn more about the full story.

The Melvin Bell Is Finally Receiving Recognition

A Coast Guard historian interviewed Bell for publication on the Coast Guards oral history website in 2014. The news slowly flowed in. The electronics support facility in the U.S. Coast Guard Base at Sand Island was named the Master Chief Melvin Kealoha Bell building in 2020.The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian recognized Melvin as the Native Hawaiian representative at an exhibition in 2022. His portrait even hangs at the residence of the Commander of the 14th District at Diamond Head Lighthouse.The USCGC Melvin Bell is the 55th of 65 sentinel class ships ordered by the Coast Guard to replace 1980s era patrol boats. The boat cost $45 million and is 154 feet long, it will be moored in Boston and sail its first mission this month.Suggested read: Your Hunting Trip Guide: 4 Free Trips Veterans Can Enjoy