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Adapted from "Rear Admiral Gerald Abner Eubank, Supply Corps, U.S. Naval Reserve, Retired" [biography, dated 2 February 1968] in Modern Biographical Files collection, Navy Department Library.
 

Adapted from "Rear Admiral Gerald Abner Eubank, Supply Corps, U.S, Naval Reserve, Retired"
[biography, dated 2 February 1968] in Modern Biographical Files collection, Navy Department Library.
Topic
Document Type
  • Biography
Wars & Conflicts
  • World War I 1917-1918
  • World War II 1939-1945
File Formats
Location of Archival Materials
  • NHHC-Library

Gerald Abner Eubank

28 July 1892-[no death date]

PDF Version [154KB]

Gerald Abner Eubank was born in Navasota, Texas, on July 28, 1892, son of John Abner and Julia Alice (Robertson) Eubank. He attended public school in Houston, Texas, and the Wilmar and Chew’s Preparatory School, Annapolis, Maryland, and in November 1910 enlisted in the US Navy as Apprentice Seaman at Kansas City, Missouri. Following boot training at Yerba Buena (Goat Island), San Francisco, California, and attendance at Yeoman’s School in San Francisco, he joined USS South Dakota, serving in her as Yeoman, Second Class. Transferred to USS New Jersey, he was serving in that ship during the occupation of Vera Cruz, Mexico, in 1914, and was member of the first landing party, seven of the members of which were killed. Later he was Assistant to the US fiscal officer (Treasurer) at the Customs House, Vera Cruz.

Following honorable discharge from the US Navy in September 1914, with the rating of Yeoman, Frist Class, he began an insurance career in Baltimore, Maryland, which was continued in Richmond, Virginia. In March 1917 he entered the US Naval Reserve as a Provisional Assistant Paymaster and, from May to August of that year, served as Assistant Disbursing Officer for the selective draft for that State of Virginia. In September 1917 he was assigned to the Fifth naval District at Norfolk, Virginia, where he took charge of ships stores on shore, and the following November was ordered to duty in the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts, Navy Department, Washington, DC.

In November 1917 he was detached for duty in connection with War Risk Insurance under Admiral William S. Sims, USN (now deceased), at London, England. He subsequently has duty at Queenstown, Ireland; Paris, France; and St. Nazaire, France, being Supply officer at the latter base. In June 1918 he was ordered to additional duty as Supply Officer of the U.S. Naval Railway Battery. On the first of the following month he was permanent duty with the US naval Railway Batteries. He saw active service at the front throughout the time these famed artillery units of the Navy were operating against the German Army, and received an official Letter of Commendation for his services.

Following the signing of the Armistice in November 1918, he returned to the United States aboard USS Wyoming, and early in 1919 was relieved of active duty. During the years intervening between World War I and Ii, while engaging in the insurance business, he kept up his Naval Reserve activities.

Ordered into active service in the rank of Commander (as of July 1, 1940), he reported in May 1941 as Assistant to the Supply Officer, Fourth Naval District, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He remained there until July 1941, when he was ordered to Washington, DC, for duty in connection with the Navy’s Campaign for the Sale of defense Savings Bonds. Promoted to Captain April 18, 1942, he was deigned as alternate to the Secretary of the Navy on the Interdepartmental Committee for the Voluntary Payroll Savings Plan for the Purchase of War Saving Bonds, created by Executive order, dated April 16, 1942. He was assigned duty as Coordinator for War Savings bonds for the entire Navy, marine Crops, and Coast Guard, to direct Navy Department activities in connection with the issuance of War Savings Bonds.

On January 24,1945,  he was presented the Treasury Department’s Distinguished Service citation by the Under Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable Ralph A. Bard, in recognition of  “the splendid bond purchase record of navy people under his direction.” He also received the Legion of Merit “for exceptionally meritorious conduct… as Coordinator for War Savings Bonds for the Navy, marine Crops and Coast Guard and as Fiscal Director of the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts from the outbreak of hostilities to September 1945…” The citation continues in part:

“Displaying exceptional Initiative, judgment and professional ability, Rear Admiral Eubank introduced and directed a carefully organized pay-deduction plan for both civilian and uniformed personnel and was in large measure responsible for the tremendous success of the Navy’s world-wide War Bond sales program whereby Navy men and women have saved more then billion dollars for their future security. In his capacity as first Fiscal director, bureau of Supplies and Accounts, he personally directed the successful reorganization of the entire administration of the Navy’s fiscal accounting functions, effectively integrating, correlating, coordinating and administering policies, procedures and personnel effort of extreme value to the entire Naval Service…”

He was promoted to Commodore on July12, 1945, while serving as Fiscal Director of the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts, and to Rear Admiral November 2, 1945, to rank from August 10, 1944. In January 1946 he again was ordered relieved of all active duty, and on August 1, 1952 was transferred from the honorary retired List to the Naval Reserve Retired List in accordance with Public Law 810-80th congress as amended.

In addition to the Legion of Merit, Rear Admiral Eubank has the Mexican Service medal; Victory Medal, with Clasp ( World War I); American defense Service Medal; European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal; American Campaign Medal; and the World War II Victory medal. He also has the Naval Reserve medal with Bronze Star.

END 

Published: Thu Apr 23 09:45:28 EDT 2020