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Adapted from "Rear Admiral Edward Louis Beck, United States Navy, Retired"
[biography, dated 24 November 1952] in Modern Biographical Files collection, Navy Department Library.
 

Adapted from "Rear Admiral Edward Louis Beck, United States Navy, Retired"
[biography, dated 24 November 1952] in Modern Biographical Files collection, Navy Department Library.
Topic
  • Communications--Visual –Signals, Radio and Voice
Document Type
  • Biography
Wars & Conflicts
  • World War II 1939-1945
File Formats
  • Image (gif, jpg, tiff)
Location of Archival Materials
  • NHHC-Library

Edward Louis Beck

20 September 1902 - [no death date]


Photo of Rear Admiral Edward L. Beck copied from page 196 of the 1925 edition of the U.S. Naval Academy yearbook 'Lucky Bag'.

PDF Version [5.1MB]

Edward Louis Beck was born in Darien (Genesse County), New York, on September 20, 1902, son of the late Louis E. and Katherine (Schaller) Beck. He attended Lancaster, New York, High School, and prior to his appointment to the US Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, in 1921, prepared at Knox Starlings Preparatory School, also located there. As a Midshipman, he played “B” squad football one year, and was a member of the third varsity and class crew. He was graduated and commissioned Ensign on June 3, 1925, and through subsequent promotions, attained the rank of Captain, his date of rank August 3, 1944. He was transferred to the Retired List of the Navy on November 1, 1946, and promoted to Rear Admiral, on the basis of combat awards. 

After graduation in June 1925, he was assigned to USS Memphis for three years, during which period he took the Australian cruise in 1925 and spent one year (1926-27), on European Station. He then served 31 months on Asiatic Station in USS Rizal, on Yangtze Patrol. Returning to the United States in December 1930, he joined USS Patoka in March 1931, and after his detachment in June 1932, reported to the Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for a tour of duty in the Navy Boiler Laboratory. 

He joined USS Greer in May 1934, and from September 1935 until April 1936 served on the staff of Commander Destroyer Squadron ONE. Continuing duty afloat, he served for eight months as Executive Officer of USS Blakely, and for six months as Engineer Officer of USS Antares. He returned to the Navy Yard, Philadelphia, for a second tour of duty, from June 1937 to May 1939, and for fifteen months thereafter served as Communications Officer of USS Maryland, a unit of Battleship Division 4, Battle Force. 

He next had charge of fitting out USS Chew (DD 106), and assumed command upon that destroyers commissioning on October 14, 1940. When the United States entered World War II in December 1941, he was transferred to command of USS Phelps (DD 360). He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V,” for meritorious achievement as Commanding Officer of the USS Phelps in action against enemy Japanese forces at Bougainville, February 20, 1942; Salamaua and Lae, March 10, 1942; the Battle of the Coral Sea from May 4 to 8, 1942; and the Battle of Midway from June 4 to 6, 1942…..” 

Reporting to the Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, in November 1942, he commissioned USS Eaton (DD 510), the next month, and commanded her until September 1943. “For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of the USS Eaton in action against enemy Japanese forces in the New Georgia Area on August 15, 1943…..” he was awarded the Silver Star Medal. The citation states that he “efficiently directed the operations of his vessel as a unit of a task group assigned to cover vital landing activities at Vella Lavella…..”

From September 1943 until May 1944 he served on the staff of Commander, Destroyer Division 28, and from July 1944 until September 1946 was a member of the staff of Commander Fleet Operational Training Command, Atlantic Fleet. When detached from the latter he was relieved of active duty pending his retirement on November 1, 1946. 

In addition to the Silver Star Medal and the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V,” Rear Admiral Beck has the Yangtze Service Medal; the American Defense Service Medal; the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with stars; the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal; and the World War II Victory Medal.

END 

Published: Tue Jul 09 10:37:41 EDT 2019