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Adapted from "Captain Eugene T. Aldridge, U. S. Navy" [biography, dated 16 May 1955] in Modern Biographical Files collection, Navy Department Library.

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Eugene Talbert Aldridge

13 June 1898 - 1 January 1966

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Eugene Talbert Aldridge was born in Hampton, Mississippi, on 13 June 1898, son of Joseph Eugene and Minnie Talbert Aldridge. He attended Mississippi College at Clinton for a year prior to entering the US Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, on appointment from the Fourth District of Mississippi in 1916. As a Midshipman he had World War I service on board USS Nevada, USS New Hampshire and USS New Jersey (battleships of the Atlantic Fleet) during the summers of 1917 and 1918.

He was graduated with the Class of 1920 on 6 June 1919, and commissioned Ensign to rank from that date. Promoted to Lieutenant (junior grade) on 6 June 1922, he resigned his commission in the US Navy on 15 August 1924, and accepted a commission in the US Naval Reserve (for four years) in April 1926. He was recommissioned in the rank of Lieutenant Commander in May 1941. Subsequently promoted to Commander in February 1943 and to Captain in June 1945, he was transferred from the Naval Reserve to the US Navy on 18 September 1946, and was designated Engineering Duty Officer. His date of rank as Captain, USN, is 10 March 1945.

Following graduation from the Naval Academy in June 1919, he was assigned to USS Columbia, Flagship of the Train, Atlantic Fleet. In 1921 he was transferred to USS Pennsylvania, Flagship of Commander in Chief, Atlantic Fleet, and continued service in that battleship after she transferred to the Pacific to serve as a unit of Division 7, and later Division 4, Battle Fleet.

After his resignation from the Navy he was associated with the Martin Iron Works (manufacturers) of Los Angeles, California, in various capacities. For fifteen years he was Superintendent of Production and later was Financial Manager. During the greater part of his seventeen years' association with the company, he was a Director and served from time to time as Secretary and Treasurer.

Called to active duty in June 1941, he served throughout World War II, and until February 1947, in the Finance Division of the Bureau of Ships, Navy Department, Washington, DC. For outstanding service as "Head of the Annual Appropriation Branch of the Finance Division, Bureau of Ships, during the period from June 1941 to October 1945..." he received a Letter of Commendation, with Ribbon, from the Secretary of the Navy. The commendation further states:

"...Captain Aldridge was personally responsible for the preparation and support of annual and supplemental budgets for the appropriation "Maintenance, Bureau of Ships," and for the administration of appropriated funds in such a manner that under unprecedented conditions the Bureau of Ships could accomplish its responsibilities for maintaining the availability of funds for the upkeep and supply of the expanding fleet for vital operations. His initiative and energy contributed greatly to the successful material support of the fleet..."

After his transfer to the US Navy in September 1946, he was ordered in March 1947 to the Industrial Survey Division, Executive Office of the Secretary, where he served as Executive Assistant to the Director. Under orders of 24 March 1949, he reported to the Naval Shipyard, Mare Island, California, where for two years he served as Industrial Engineering Officer. During the next three years he had duty as Assistant Industrial Manager and Superintendent of Shipbuilding, in San Francisco, California, and in June 1954 was ordered to return to the Bureau of Ships. Since December of that year he had served as Assistant Chief of Naval Material and Director of Production.

In addition to the Commendation Ribbon, Captain Aldridge had the Victory Medal, Atlantic Fleet Clasp; the American Defense Service Medal; American Campaign Medal ; World War I Victory Medal; and the National Defense Service Medal.

[END]

Published: Fri Jan 05 12:14:58 EST 2018