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Adapted from "Lieutenant Colonel Earl Richardson Chase, QMC, United States Army" [biography, dated 5 July 1948] in Modern Biographical Files collection, Navy Department Library.

Topic
  • Marine Corps-USMC
Document Type
  • Biography
Wars & Conflicts
  • World War I 1917-1918
  • World War II 1939-1945
File Formats
Location of Archival Materials
  • NHHC-Library

Earl Richardson Chase

22 June 1900-29 November 1978

Lieutenant Colonel Chase was born in Hillsboro, Texas, on June 22, 1900, son of A.M. Chase of Lady Lake, Florida, and Mrs. Mattie E. Chase of Houston, Texas. He was graduated from the Houston, Texas, High School, and attended night schools of that city. Enlisting in the US Marine Corps on May 20, 1918, during World War I, he held the rank of Gunnery Sergeant before receiving his honorable discharge on March 17, 1919. Resuming his studies, interrupted by the war, he completed courses in Business Administration and Higher Accountancy at the LaSalle Extension University, Chicago, Illinois, in 1920 and 1926, respectively.

A member of the Officers Reserve Corps of the United States Army, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Quartermaster Corps on August 21, 1930, and subsequently attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, to date from November 12, 1942. His civilian occupation, prior to active service in World War II, was Clerk, Production Department, Magnolia Petroleum Company, Dallas, Texas (Socony-Vacum Oil Company)

Called to active duty on December 14, 1940, Lieutenant Colonel Chase (then in the rank of Captain) served successively as Quartermaster of Fort Sill Reception Center, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and of Camp Swift, Texas. From August 23, 1943, to March 27, 1944, he had duty as Chief of the Fuels and Lubricants Division, Northwest Service Command, in Canada and Alaska, with Headquarters at Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. While in Canada, he scheduled and supervised petroleum pipeline distribution as well as all petroleum products for that command, which included the Canol System, supplying all airfields and posts, camps and stations on the Russian supply routes for airplanes.

Lieutenant Colonel Chase proceeded, on orders from Washington to France, for duty as Supply Officer for Petrol Oil Lubrications for the Normandy Base Section at Cherbourg, where he supervised receipt and shipment of all petroleum products to the interior for all Allied forces, including receipt of tankers at Cherbourg, LaHarve, and Antwerp. There he also had supervision of all major pipeline systems starting from those points. A member of the Theater General Board Supply Division, he assisted in compiling the history of the invasion –on Petroleum. He returned to the United States on May 6, 1946.

Lieutenant Colonel Chase served as Chief of the Resource Section, Armed Service Petroleum Board, until his recent appointment as Senior Army Member of that Board. He is also Deputy Executive Officer and Director of the Plans Division.

For services during World War II, Lieutenant Colonel Chase has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster (in lieu of a Second Bronze Star Medal); and the Amr Commendation Ribbon. The Citation follow:

Bronze Star Medal

“Lieutenant Colonel Earl R. Chase (Army Serial # 0289089), Quartermaster Corps, United States Army, for meritorious service in connection with military operations as Chief,, G-4 Section, Petroleum, Oil and Lubricants, Cherbourg Command, Provisional, Base Section No.3, and Normandy Base Section, Communications Zone, European Theater of Operations, from 22 August 1944 to 8 May 1945. The success achieved by Lieutenant Colonel Chase through expeditions receipt, forwarding and issue of petroleum products was an outstanding example of what can be accomplished by ability, intelligence and thorough knowledge of the job. The immediate solution of gasoline, oil and lubricant problems aided greatly in the successful accomplishment of the Base Section mission of forwarding needed supplies to the armies. Lieutenant Colonel Chase’s conscientious and completely successful performance of duty is a credit to himself and was a definite contribution to the victorious outcome of the European conflict. Entered military service from Texas.”

Oak Leaf Cluster (Second Bronze Star Medal)

“For meritorious service in connection with military operations, from 23 March 1945 to 27 March 1945. Lieutenant Colonel Chase distinguished himself by personally supervising the necessary installations for the receipt of large trans-Atlantic tankers carrying gasoline to the port of LeHarve. His actions permitted in one instance a ship-shore connecting time of ten minutes, thus setting an example never before attained at any port on the European Continent.”

Army Commendation Ribbon- The Quartermaster General.

“During World War II the Quartermaster Corps successfully accomplished its mission of supplying the United States Army and many out Allies. This task was made possible only through the combined efforts of all Quartermaster personnel. Your service with the Quartermaster Corps has been exceptional when compared with others of the same grade in similar positions and I wish to commend you for your outstanding contribution.”

Lieutenant Colonel Chase also has the following foreign decorations: Officer de L’Ordre de Leopord II, of Belgium, and Medaille d’Argent de la Reconnaissance Francaise, of France.

In addition to the Bronze Star Medal with Cluster, the Army Commendation Ribbon, and the decorations from the Governments of France and Belgium, Lieutenant Colonel Chase has the World War I Victory Medal; the Navy and Marine Corps Medal; the American Defense Service Medal; the American Area Campaign Medal; the European-African-Middle Eastern Area Campaign Medal with one battle star: the Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal; the World War II Victory Medal; and the German Occupation Medal.

END

Published: Tue May 04 15:22:53 EDT 2021