Graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, New London, Conn., in 1949, with a B.S. Degree in Engineering and a commission as Ensign; from July 1956 to July 1960, he served at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington, D.C., as a Branch Chief in the Supply Division; during the following two years he commanded the buoy tender Mariposa (WAGL-397) out of New London, Conn.; from Sept. 1962 to Apr. 1965, he served as Comptroller, Second Coast Guard District, St. Louis, Mo., with collateral duties that included Cadet Procurement in Kansas and Missouri; he transferred to the Third Coast Guard District staff in New York to serve as Assistant Project Officer for the conversion of Fort Jay, Governors Island from an Army post to a Coast Guard facility; from March 1966 to June 1969, he was Executive Officer of the Coast Guard Base at Governors Island; he returned to Headquarters in July 1969 to assume the post of Chief, Programs Division under the Chief of Staff; following his nomination to flag rank by the President on 17 January 1974, and the approval of the Senate, Captain Gracey was transferred to Portsmouth, Va., in June 1974 to become Chief of Staff, Fifth Coast Guard District; he was promoted to Rear Admiral from 1 October 1974, and assumed duties of Commander, Ninth Coast Guard District, Cleveland, Ohio; transferred again to Headquarters in Aug. 1977, Admiral Gracey assumed the post of Chief of Staff of the U.S. Coast Guard; Promotion to Vice Admiral came when Admiral Gracey accepted command of the Coast Guard Pacific Area and Twelfth Coast Guard District in San Francisco on 1 July 1978; after his tour as Commander of the Pacific Area, he transferred to Commander, Atlantic Area and Commander, Third Coast Guard District; on 28 May 1982, he assumed the post of Commandant of the Coast Guard with the rank of Admiral; his tenure as Commandant ended when he was relieved on 30 May 1986.
From the description of Reminiscences of Adm. James S. Gracey, USCG (Ret.) Commandant United States Coast Guard, 2001, 2001 Feb. 21-Sept. 26. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 71130104
