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Adapted from "Captain Noble Wayne Abrahams, U. S. Navy" [biography, dated 9 March 1949] in Modern Biographical Files collection, Navy Department Library.

Topic
Document Type
  • Biography
Wars & Conflicts
  • World War II 1939-1945
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Noble Wayne Abrahams 

1 August 1900 - 15 February 1991

PDF Version [3.3MB]

Captain Abrahams was born in Dublin, Texas, 1 August 1900. He attended school in Washington, DC, graduating from Central High School and Columbian Preparatory School before entering the US Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland from the Eighth Texas District in 1920. He was graduated and commissioned Ensign in June 1924, and was promoted in rank progressively until he made Captain, to date from 1 June 1943.

His first duty upon leaving the Academy was in USS Colorado for ten months. In April 1925, he was ordered to USS McCormick, of Destroyer Squadron, Asiatic Station, and in July of that year he transferred to USS Truxtun and served in her on Yangtze River patrol duty for the protection of American lives and property during a long period of unrest in China. He was detached from that duty in July 1928, and returned to the United States in the SS Leviathan by way of the Suez Canal and Europe. He next joined USS McFarland, of Destroyers Scouting Fleet, and served as her Engineer Officer from December 1928 until January 1931.

The following month, Captain Abrahams reported to the Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, Illinois, and was there attached until June 1933, when again ordered to sea duty in USS Oklahoma, serving as her Electrical Officer and Boiler Officer for three years. He reported in June 1936, to the Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Industrial Department, where he was Assistant Machinery Superintendent, then Ship Superintendent in the construction of the cruisers Philadelphia and Wichita. When detached in May 1938, he reported to the New York Shipbuilding Corporation plant, Camden, New Jersey, where USS Nashville was fitting out, and when she was commissioned 4 June 1938, he went aboard as Communications Officer.

In June 1939, Captain Abrahams assumed command of USS Goff, and the following March transferred to the USS Vincennes, light cruiser, as Engineer Officer. He returned to the Navy Yard, New York, NY to await further assignment, and in May 1942 was named Engineer Officer of the battleship Iowa then building, and he remained in that duty after her commissioning on 22 February 1943 and until detached the following December.

Captain Abrahams then reported, in January 1944, as Commanding Officer of the Naval Damage Control Training Center, Philadelphia Naval Base, and again returned to sea duty in December 1945 as Commanding Officer of USS Amphion, repair ship. In September 1947 he reported back to the Commandant, Fourth Naval District for temporary duty awaiting further assignment, and was then ordered as US Naval Liaison Officer to the Commanding General of the Military Government in Germany.

Captain Abrahams was awarded a Letter of Commendation by the Secretary of the Navy and authorized to wear the commendation Ribbon for his services in command of the Naval Damage Control Training Center, Philadelphia. He also held a Letter of Commendation from the Commandant, Twelfth Naval District, the Yangtze Service Medal, American Defense Service Medal, Fleet Clasp, American Area Campaign Medal, and World War II Victory Medal.

[END]

Published: Wed Jan 03 10:21:29 EST 2018