Naval History and Heritage Command

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Captain Bard was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 7, 1894.  He enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve Force April 20, 1917 and in May reported for active duty.  He was commissioned Ensign in the Naval Coast Defense Reserve on September 28, 1917 and during World War I served in submarine chasers.  He was promoted to Lieutenant (junior grade) July 1, 1918, and in May 1919 was relieved from all active duty.  In October 1921, he re-enrolled in the US Naval Reserve Force and on January 14, 1922, was commissioned Ensign in the regular Navy, to rank from June 4, 1920.  His subsequent promotions were as follows: Lieutenant (junior grade), June 4, 1923 Lieutenant, June 4, 1926; Lieutenant Commander, June 30, 1936; Commander, May 1, 1941; and Captain, May 1943 to rank from June 20, 194[?]

Captain Bard reported to the Submarine Base, New London, Connecticut, in February 1922 for instruction and, after qualifying in submarines, served in that type vessel until 1926.  From 1926-1928 he had postgraduate instruction in Diesel Engineering at the Postgraduate School, Annapolis, Maryland, and at Columbia University, New York City, receiving the degree of Master of Science from that university in 1928.

For the next three years he was division engineer of a Submarine Division, with additional duty as engineer and repair officer, Submarine Base, Pearl Harbor, T.H., and, from August 1931 until May 1933, he had similar duty at the Submarine Base, New London, Connecticut.  He was then transferred to duty as assistant engineer officer of the USS New York serving in that assignment until June 1936, when he returned to duty at the Navy Yard, Pearl Harbor.

Following that duty, Captain Bard rejoined the USS New York in May 1938, and served as her engineer officer and later as navigator.  In November 1940, he reported to the Commandant of the Fifth Naval District, Norfolk, Virginia, for duty in connection with the formation of the experimental minesweeping group and assumed command of that unit on November 5.  On January 28, 1942, he was placed in command of the USS Talamanca and served in that command until November 1943, when he was transferred to duty on the staff of Command Service Squadron, South Pacific Force.  For his services in that staff duty from November 1943 until May 1944, he was awarded the Legion of Merit.  (Citation not available).

After his return to the United States in September 194, Captain Bard had duty in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department, Washington, DC.  In June 1945 he was ordered back to duty in the Pacific, serving consecutively on the Staff of the Commander, Marianas, in connection with convoy, routing and shipping, on the staff of the Commander, Fifth Fleet, and in May 1946 he was ordered to duty as Chief of Staff and Aide to the Commander, Naval Forces, Japan.

In addition to the Legion of Merit, Captain Bard has the Victory Medal, Submarine Chaser Clasp (USS SC-339); and is entitled to the American Defense Service Medal, Fleet Clasp (USS New York); the Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal; the American Area Campaign Medal; and the World War II Victory Medal.

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