WWII Silver Star Group to Admiral Beck , Pearl Harbor Survivor

[KASTAUFFER]

I recently acquired this group to Admiral Beck who had some notable participation in famous events during WWII and even before.

 

In the 1920's he was an officer on the Light Cruiser USS Memphis when it brought Charles Lindbergh back from France after his famous Flight.

 

He was this skipper of the USS Phelps during the Pearl Harbor attack and was the destroyer captain who was given the job of sinking the USS Lexington after she was critically damaged during the Battle of the Coral Sea. He helped screen the fleet during the Battle of Midway. He earned a Silver Star for actions in support of the attack of Vella Lavella.

 

For all of these actions he earned a Silver Star and a Bronze Star. In the 1930's he earned a Yangtze Service Medal while on the USS Rizal.

 

There is a lot in this group I am not showing but will later. There is a LOT of paperwork with this group.

 

I will let the rest tell his story:

 

 

 

 

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[ViewfinderGyrene]

Beautiful Navy group, Kurt! What a career he had!

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Permanent Citation for the Silver Star

 

 

 

Presentation Ceremony

 

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Yangtze Service Medal Transmittal Letter for Medal #515

 

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Memories of the Pearl Harbor Attack

 

 

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The list of battle stars he earned is a snapshot of famous Naval Battles

 

 

 

[Too Much WW1 Militaria]

Gee, that group looks familiar! LOL Glad it's out of the storage tub! And, there is a TON of supporting paperwork!

[KASTAUFFER]

His final resting place in the US Naval Academy Cemetery . RIP Admiral

 

 

[KASTAUFFER]

Gee, that group looks familiar! LOL Glad it's out of the storage tub! And, there is a TON of supporting paperwork!

Yes there is! It would take a long time to take pics of his entire pre WWII service record! I do love his Naval Academy Diploma.

 

I will probably do a separate thread on the Japanese rifle he brought back.

 

Kurt

[KASTAUFFER]

I posted the rifle here: http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/233383-wwii-battle-damaged-japanese-rifle-brought-back-by-navy-admiral/

[Too Much WW1 Militaria]

The PME/officers education books are really neat as well. This group came from the grandson in Fla.

[Wharfmaster]

Nice group indeed.

 

Interestingly, the 1938 Navy Directory shows him at the Naval Boiler Laboratory, Navy Yard, in Philly. ( per your document too )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wharf

[katieony]

Kurt,

Another outstanding group! Thanks for posting.

Mike

[decwriter]

Awesome group Kurt!

Thanks for sharing it.

Randy

[tarbridge]

Nice group...He had a front row seat to it all...

[Wharfmaster]

Twelve battle stars on an Asiatic-Pacific Campaign is not too common. Nice !

 

 

 

W

[CNY Militaria]

Wow, that is a cool group! Thank you for showing it here.

[KASTAUFFER]

Thanks for the comments, This is one of my favorite groups. I had some time this morning so I pulled the group out and took some more photos of other items

 

Here is the Admiral's hat,

 

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His Naval Academy Diploma

 

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Shellback certificates from 1925 and 1936