Naval History and Heritage Command

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Born in Annapolis, Maryland on 28 January 1909, Captain Allen is the son of Rear Admiral (retired) and Mrs. B. C. Allen of La Jolla, California. He was a graduate of Brunswick School in Greenwich, Connecticut; the Naval Academy and Postgraduate School, Annapolis; and the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia. He had served as an Instructor at the Armed Forces Staff College and the Naval Training Station, San Diego, California, and as Officer in Charge of the Naval Section, Marine Schools, Quantico, Virginia.

Early in his career he had gunnery duties in the battleships New Mexico and Maryland, served as Gunnery Officer of the destroyers Long and Noa, and served as Communications Officer of the destroyer tender Dobbin and on the staff of Commander Battleship Division ONE. After shore duty as Captain of the Yard and District Communication Officer at the Naval Station, Guam, Mariana Islands, he served from May 1940 until September 1941 as Assistant First Lieutenant and Damage Control Officer of the cruiser Honolulu.

At the outbreak of World War II, he was Engineering and Gunnery Officer of the gunboat Charleston, which participated in operations in the Aleutians in 1942. In 1943 he served as Gunnery Officer on the staff of Commander SEVENTH Amphibious Force, in the Southwest Pacific, and in command of LCT Flotilla 7, took part in operations in New Guinea and New Britain, He later commanded LCT Flotillas of the SEVENTH Amphibious Force, and was Task Group Commander for operations in New Guinea and Landing Craft Control Officer at Cape Cretin and Hollandia. For outstanding services he was awarded the Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal and Letter of Commendation, each with Combat "V."

On his return to the United States in April 1945, he was assigned to the Logistics Division of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department, and in July 1947 assumed command of USS Washburn, an attack cargo ship. After a year in that command and almost three years at the Armed Forces Staff College, he commanded USS Latimer (APA-152) assigned to the SIXTH Fleet in the Mediterranean, and later to Northern Operations.

From July 1954 until May 1956 Captain Allen was Chief of Staff to Commander Amphibious Group 3, serving in the Eastern and Western Pacific and participating in the DEW Line Operation in the Arctic. Since June 1956 he had been Commanding Officer of the Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado, California.

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Born: Annapolis, Maryland, 28 January 1909
Died: 5 April 1995
Parents: Rear Admiral Burrell C. Allen, USN, Ret., and Mrs. (Selma Emily Mertz) Allen
Education: Brunswick School, Greenwich, Connecticut; US Naval Academy (BS, 1930); Naval Postgraduate School (General Line); Armed Forces Staff College

Promotions :
Commissioned Ensign, 5 June 1930
Lieutenant (jg ), 5 June 1933
Lieutenant, 1937
Lieutenant Commander, 1942
Commander, 1943
Captain, to date from 1 September 1948

Decorations and Medals:
Legion of Merit, with Combat "V"
Bronze Star Medal, with Combat "V"
Commendation Ribbon, with Combat "V" and Pendant
American Defense Service Medal, Fleet Clasp American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, with 3 stars
World War II Victory Medal
Navy Occupation Service Medal, Europe Clasp
National Defense Service Medal

Citations

Legion of Merit: "For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services...as Commanding Officer of a Task Group of Landing Craft Tanks engaged in supplying our forces during offensive operations against enemy Japanese occupied Lae and. Finaschhafen, New Guinea, and Arawe and Cape Gloucester, New Britain, from 4 September to 26 December 1943...(He)coordinated his task groups with daring and effective tactical skill toward the prompt completion of each assigned mission. (His) outstanding professional ability, sound judgment and untiring devotion to duty contributed materially to successful operations..."

Bronze Star Medal: "For heroic service as Commander of Task Group SEVENTY-SIX POINT FIVE in action...at Morobe, New Guinea, on 12 September 1943. When hostile aircraft launched a surprise dive-bombing and strafing run over our forces in the Harbor and threatened to delay the departure of an echelon, (he)...embarked in a small boat and proceeded across the harbor... Assuming temporary command of the echelon, he...directed the forming and departure of the group composed of small escorts and LCT's loaded with artillery, ammunition and rations urgently needed by Allied Troops in combat in the Lae-Salamaua Areas..."

CHRONOLOGICAL TRANSCRIPT OF SERVICE

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