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Adapted from "Captain Arthur Charles Eberhard, Civil Engineer Corps, United States Navy," [biography, dated 4 April 1955] in Modern Biographical Files collection, Navy Department Library.

Topic
Document Type
  • Biography
Wars & Conflicts
  • World War I 1917-1918
  • World War II 1939-1945
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  • NHHC-Library

Arthur Charles Eberhard 

28 March 1893 - [no death date] 

PDF Version [2.2MB]

Arthur Charles Eberhard was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, on March 28, 1893, son of Charles Eberhard and Anna J. (Werner) Eberhard, both deceased. He attended Allentown High School; Bethlehem (Pennsylvania) Preparatory School; and Lehigh University of Bethlehem, from which he received the degree of Civil Engineer, June 1916. He was appointed Lieutenant (jg) in the Civil Engineer Corps of the US Navy on January 13, 1918 and on April 3, 1920 he resigned his commission. On April 19, 1937 he was again commissioned (Lieutenant Commander) in the Civil Engineer Corps of the US Naval Reserve, and subsequently advanced in rank, attaining that of Captain, to date from May 15, 1943. He was transferred on September 11, 1946, to the Civil Engineer Corps of the US Navy. 

Reporting for active duty in January 1918, he had brief duty in the Bureau of Yards and Docks, Navy Department, Washington, DC, prior to being ordered overseas. During the period April 1918 to January 14, 1920, he was engaged as Assistant Civil Engineer in the Construction of the Lafayette Radio Station, Croix d’Hins, France. He returned to the United States where he served in the Public Works Department at the Naval Operating Base, Norfolk, Virginia, until April 1920. 

In civil life he was and is a professional engineer for the State of Pennsylvania. Ordered into active Naval service, he reported in July 1940 as Assistant Officer in Charge of Construction at the Naval Air Station, Corpus Christi, Texas, and in August 1941 became Officer in Charge of Construction and Public Works Officer of that station. He continued to serve in that capacity following the United States entry into World War II, December 8. 1941, until November 1942, after which he had duty as Assistant Director and Director of the Progress Control and Statistical Department, Bureau of Yards and Docks. 

 “For outstanding performance of duty. . .from December 1941 to October 1945. . .” he was awarded the Letter of Commendation by the Secretary of the Navy. The citation continues in part: “A leader of extensive construction experience and administrative skill in supervising a great naval project, (he) was personally responsible for the successful completion of the Naval Air Base, Corpus Christi, Texas. Applying himself with unflagging seal and devotion to the best interests of the Naval Service, he established procedures and rentals of contractor-owned and third-party construction equipment. . . .and insured the final auditing of theses specialized contracts for the Bureau of Yards and Docks. . .He rendered invaluable air in carrying out liaison activities with other government agencies and, displaying unusual foresight and judgement, established construction equipment, Repair Depots, which made available to advance bases critical materials essential to the prosecution       of the war. . .”

He reported in February 1947 as Public Works Officer on the staff of Commander Naval Forces, Philippines, with headquarters in Manila and in November 1941 transferred to the staff of Commander Marianas, to serve as Base Development Officer, Marianas Area Engineer and Officer in Charge of the Thirtieth Naval Construction Regiment. Between December 1948 and June 1951 he was District Public Works Officer and District Civil Engineer in the Thirteenth Naval District, with headquarters in Seattle, Washington, after which he had duty as District Public Works Officer of the Third Naval District, New York, New York. 

He was Naval Advisor to the Joint Construction Agency, Paris, France, March 1953 to March 1954, and following brief duty in the Bureau of Yards and Docks, Navy Department, reported in April 1954 as District Civil Engineer, First Naval District, with headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts. 

In addition to the Commendation Ribbon, Captain Eberhard has the Victory Medal (World War I); the American Defense Service Medal; the American Campaign Medal; the World War II Victory Medal; and the National Defense Service Medal. He has also been awarded the Cross and Diploma of Officer d’Academie by the Government of France.

He is a member of the Army and Navy Club, Washington, DC, and the Railroad and Machinery Club of New York, and the American Society of Military Engineers.

END 

Published: Wed Mar 04 08:26:06 EST 2020