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Adapted from "Captain David J. Veazey, U. S. Naval Reserve" [biography, dated 6 September 1960] in Biographies, 20th century collection, Navy Department Library.

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  • Biography
Wars & Conflicts
  • World War II 1939-1945
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David Julian Veazey

19 June 1913 -

David Julian Veazey was born in El Paso, Texas, on 19 June 1913, son of Mrs. Norman E. (Edna Earl Cooke) Veazey and the late Mr. Veazey. He attended Memphis Technical High School, Memphis, Tennessee, completing the Electrical Engineering Course there, and in March 1931 enlisted in the US Naval Reserve as a Seaman, first class. Promoted to Radioman, second and Radioman, first class, he was commissioned Ensign on 14 October 1935, and subsequently advanced to the rank of Captain in the US Naval Reserve, with date of rank 1 July 1956.

While in inactive status in the Naval Reserve, he served as Chief Radio Engineer, Memphis Police Radio System, for eight years, and for three years was with RCA Victor Division, RCA Staff, Police and Emergency Communications Department, Camdon, New Jersey. The last four years he served as Radioman in Charge of Unit 1, Section 5, Inactive Reserve, receiving a Special Order Discharge to accept a commission as Ensign, USNR.

After being commissioned in October 1935 he was assigned as Commanding Officer of Unit 1, Section 5, Reserve Radio Station, Memphis, and before being called to active duty in March 1941 participated in flood emergency service in Memphis on 28 January 1937. He was commended by the U . Coast Guard for communication assistance during that emergency.

His first active duty, March 1941 until September 1943, was at the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida, where he served as Aircraft Radio and Radar Officer, with additional duty as Radar Officer in PBY Squadron on convoy and escort duty in the Gulf of Mexico, during the early period of World War II. He was then assigned to the USN Radar School, Corpus Christi, Texas, and upon completion of the course in November 1943, he reported to the Navy Department, Washington, DC. There he was assigned duty as Head, Radio Navigation Branch, Electronics Division, and remained on duty in that capacity throughout the last two years of the war.

From January 1946 until July 1947, again in inactive status in the Naval Reserve, he was Commanding Officer, Electronic Warfare Company, at Oaklyn, New Jersey, and again was attached to the Staff of RCA Victory Mfg. Company. Recalled to active duty in July 1947, he returned to the Navy Department, Washington, to serve in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, under the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Air and Logistics) in the Airborne Radar and Electronic Warfare Program. There he planned and managed the AEW-CIC Constellation Program during the period ending in July 1952.

For three years he was assigned as Test Coordinator at the US Naval Air Material Test Center, Point Mugu, California, and in July 1955 returned to the Navy Department, where he served this time as Deputy Director, Plans and Programs Division (Fleet Ballistic Missile Program) of the Bureau of Ordnance. Re-designated when combined with the Bureau of Aeronautics in January 1960, the Bureau of Ordnance became the Bureau of Naval Weapons, and Captain Veazey was assigned duty as Assistant for Communications to the Director, Technical Division.

Captain Veazey has the Naval Reserve Medal with Star; the American Defense Service Medal; American Campaign Medal; World War II Victory Medal; and the National Defense Service Medal.

[END]
Published: Wed Feb 27 14:50:19 EST 2019