9 2 0 s ▁drama ▁films ▁Category : American ▁films ▁Category : American ▁drama ▁films ▁Category : American ▁silent ▁feature ▁films ▁Category : English - language ▁films ▁Category : V it agraph ▁Studios ▁films ▁Category : Fil ms ▁directed ▁by ▁David ▁Smith ▁( direct or ) ▁Category : American ▁black - and - white ▁films <0x0A> </s> ▁John ▁With ers po on ▁was ▁a ▁distinguished ▁sail or ▁in ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Coast ▁Guard . ▁ ▁With ers po on ▁started ▁his ▁military ▁career ▁in ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Army , ▁en list ed ▁in ▁the ▁Coast ▁Guard ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 3 , ▁where , ▁after ▁promotion ▁to ▁Qu arter master ▁First ▁Class , ▁he ▁was ▁invited ▁to ▁attended ▁Officer ▁training ▁school , ▁and ▁was ▁commission ed ▁an ▁en sign , ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 1 . ▁ ▁With ers po on ▁would ▁eventually ▁command ▁three ▁Coast ▁Guard ▁cut ters , ▁M allow ▁V ali ant ▁and ▁Dep end able , ▁and ▁rise ▁to ▁the ▁rank ▁of ▁Captain . ▁ ▁He ▁was ▁only ▁the ▁second ▁individual ▁of ▁African - American ▁descent ▁to ▁command ▁a ▁cut ter , ▁and ▁was ▁the ▁first ▁individual ▁of ▁African - American ▁descent ▁to ▁command ▁a ▁Coast ▁Guard ▁Base . ▁ ▁With ers po on ▁died ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 4 . ▁ ▁Leg acy ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 9 4 ▁the ▁National ▁Association ▁for ▁the ▁Ad van cement ▁of ▁Col ored ▁People ▁( NA AC P ), ▁named ▁With ers po on ▁and ▁a ▁Coast