Lt. j.g. Jeanine McIntoshFirst for black women
Lt. j.g. McIntosh gets Coast Guard wings, will go down in books

By fanny s. chirinos
Caller-Times
June 25, 2005

Lt. j.g. Jeanine McIntosh smiled from ear to ear as her father, Conrol McIntosh, pinned golden wings on her uniform Friday, making her the first black female U.S. Coast Guard aviator.

McIntosh, 26, said the experience made her aware that barriers still exist for blacks and women in general. Although her name will be inscribed in history books, McIntosh said the experience also has been humbling.

"I'm just really honored," McIntosh said, after the winging ceremony at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. "There's no other word for it."

McIntosh said she always knew flying was her passion, but the road toward her dream was not always smooth.

She was initially unable to pass the vision test because of her 20/400 vision. Photorefractive keratectomy surgery was successful and she was awarded a slot in the pilot training program. McIntosh then had to overcome her fear of the water.

"Overcoming my fear was one of my biggest accomplishments," she said. "Conquering so many personal struggles prepared me for the mental drive necessary to complete the extremely challenging training regimen."

The pilot training included learning the instrumentation, flight patterns and completing missions. McIntosh began her training at the base in January and completed it a few weeks ago.

Coast Guard Lt. Jason Flennoy helped McIntosh get into the program and took a detour from his cross-country move from Arlington, Va., to San Francisco to attend the winging ceremony.

"It's beautiful to watch her make history," Flennoy said. "One, she's an officer in the Coast Guard and two, she's an aviator. She'd always say failure was not an option for her."

Members of McIntosh's family flew from New York, Jamaica, the Bahamasand Florida to witness the event, including her uncle, Michael Larrow, fromJamaica.

"Jeanine's story is one of a humble person who worked hard to make something of herself, and we're all extremely proud," Larrow said. "It's an inner drive that made her accomplish this dream and I hope this will inspire the ladies to follow in her footsteps."

Maurice McIntosh, her 23-year-old brother, said he was initially surprised at her decision to join the Coast Guard, but could not be prouder of his sister. His concern is following in his sister's footsteps.

"Right now it can't be done," McIntosh said. "I'm her younger brother, so I'll have something to do in the future to match up to her. It's going to be hard. She's made history."

Copyright 2005, Caller.com. All Rights Reserved.

 


Michelle Christenson/Caller-Times

Conrol McIntosh (left) beams after placing wings on his daughter Lt. j.g. Jeanine McIntosh after a ceremony at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. She is the first black woman in the U.S. Coast Guard to receive her wings.

Lt. j.g. Jeanine McIntosh (center)

Coast Guard Firsts
  • 1943: Joseph C. Jenkins becomes the first black officer in the Coast Guard
  • 1945: The first five black women join the Coast Guard
  • 1957: Bobby C. Wilks becomes the first black Coast Guard aviator
  • 1977: Janna Lambine becomes the first female Coast Guard aviator
  • 2005: Jeanine McIntosh becomes the first black female Coast Guard aviator