Edward Latimer Beach Jr. (April 20, 1918 – December 1, 2002) was a highly decorated

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

submarine A submarine (or sub) is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability. The term is also sometimes used historically or colloquially to refer to remotely op ...

officer and best-selling author. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

, he participated in the

Battle of Midway The Battle of Midway was a major naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II that took place on 4–7 June 1942, six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor and one month after the Battle of the Coral Sea. The U.S. Navy under ...

and 12 combat patrols, earning 10 decorations for gallantry, including the

Navy Cross The Navy Cross is the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps' second-highest military decoration awarded for sailors and marines who distinguish themselves for extraordinary heroism in combat with an armed enemy force. The medal is eq ...

. After the war, he served as the naval aide to the

President of the United States The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the Federal government of the United States#Executive branch, executive branch of the Federal gove ...

, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and commanded the first submerged

circumnavigation Circumnavigation is the complete navigation around an entire island, continent, or astronomical body (e.g. a planet or moon). This article focuses on the circumnavigation of Earth. The first recorded circumnavigation of the Earth was the ...

. Beach's best-selling novel, ''

Run Silent, Run Deep ''Run Silent, Run Deep'' is a novel by Commander (later Captain) Edward L. Beach Jr. published in 1955 by Henry Holt & Co. The story describes World War II submarine warfare in the Pacific Ocean, and deals with themes of vengeance, endurance, ...

'', was made into the 1958 movie by the same name. The son of Captain

Edward L. Beach Sr. Edward Latimer Beach Sr. (June 30, 1867December 20, 1943) was a United States Navy officer and author. He served in three of the United States' wars, ranging from the Spanish–American War up through World War I. He was the father of the futu ...

and Alice Fouché Beach, Beach Jr. was born in

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

and raised in

Palo Alto, California Palo Alto (; Spanish for "tall stick") is a charter city in the northwestern corner of Santa Clara County, California, United States, in the San Francisco Bay Area, named after a coastal redwood tree known as El Palo Alto. The city was es ...

Naval career

Beach was appointed to the

U.S. Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy (US Naval Academy, USNA, or Navy) is a federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as Secretary of the Navy. The Naval Academy is ...

in 1935 by Senator

Hiram Johnson Hiram Warren Johnson (September 2, 1866August 6, 1945) was an American attorney and politician who served as the 23rd governor of California from 1911 to 1917. Johnson achieved national prominence in the early 20th century. He was elected in 191 ...

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

. Beach served as a regimental commander in his first class year. Beach was named as the

midshipman A midshipman is an officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Canada (Naval Cadet), Australia, Bangladesh, Namibia, New Zealand, South Af ...

who had done the most to promote naval spirit and loyalty in his regiment when he graduated second out of 576 men in his class in 1939. ''Current Biography'' (1960), p. 21 Beach was initially assigned to the

heavy cruiser The heavy cruiser was a type of cruiser, a naval warship designed for long range and high speed, armed generally with naval guns of roughly 203 mm (8 inches) in caliber, whose design parameters were dictated by the Washington Naval T ...

, before joining the newly recommissioned

destroyer In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast, manoeuvrable, long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against powerful short range attackers. They were originally developed ...

, which participated in the neutrality patrol in the Atlantic, the escort of the German

passenger liner A passenger ship is a merchant ship whose primary function is to carry passengers on the sea. The category does not include cargo vessels which have accommodations for limited numbers of passengers, such as the ubiquitous twelve-passenger freig ...

, the initial American occupation of

Iceland Iceland ( is, Ísland; ) is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean and in the Arctic Ocean. Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe. Iceland's capital and largest city is Reykjavík, which (along with its ...

, and convoy duty in the North Atlantic. Beach was detached from ''Lea'' in September 1941 to undergo accelerated training at the Submarine Training School at the New London Submarine Base in

Connecticut Connecticut () is the southernmost state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York (state), New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the ...

. He completed training, graduating first in his class, in December 1941 shortly after the

attack on Pearl Harbor The attack on Pearl HarborAlso known as the Battle of Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service upon the United States against the naval base at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii ...

World War II

During World War II, Beach served aboard the

s and , and took command of just as the

Pacific War The Pacific War, sometimes called the Asia–Pacific War, was the theater of World War II that was fought in Asia, the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and Oceania. It was geographically the largest theater of the war, including the vas ...

was ending. Cmdr Beach WW2

After graduating from Submarine School, Beach was assigned to USS ''Trigger'' (SS-237), which was commissioned on January 30, 1942. Aboard ''Trigger'' Beach held several shipboard positions, including communications officer, engineering officer, navigator, co-approach officer, and executive officer. While aboard ''Trigger'', he participated in the

and served on 10 war patrols. ''Trigger'' was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation and the Navy Unit Citation during Beach's time aboard her. Beach was assigned to the new commissioned USS ''Tirante'' (SS-420) late in 1944. He served as executive officer under Lieutenant Commander

George L. Street George Levick Street III (July 27, 1913 – February 26, 2000) was a submariner in the United States Navy. He received the Medal of Honor during World War II. Early life and career Street was born in Richmond, Virginia. He joined the Naval Reser ...

, who was awarded the

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of val ...

for a making a daring attack in a heavily defended Japanese harbor during ''Tirante''s first war patrol from March 3 to April 26, 1945. Beach received the

for heroism during the same patrol and ''Tirante'' received the Presidential Unit Citation. Beach assumed command of USS ''Piper'' (SS-409) at Pearl Harbor on June 25, 1945. ''Piper'' departed on her third war patrol on July 19 and entered the

Sea of Japan The Sea of Japan is the marginal sea between the Japanese archipelago, Sakhalin, the Korean Peninsula, and the mainland of the Russian Far East. The Japanese archipelago separates the sea from the Pacific Ocean. Like the Mediterranean Sea, i ...

on August 13. The war ended on August 14 and ''Piper'' was in Japanese waters when the formal surrender was signed on September 2 and started her return to Pearl Harbor the next day. During World War II, Beach earned 10 decorations for gallantry, including the

and three unit citations, and participated in 12 war patrols that damaged or sank 45 enemy vessels.

Cold War

In December 1945, Beach reported to the Department of the Navy to serve as the personal aide to Vice Admiral

Louis E. Denfeld Louis Emil Denfeld (April 13, 1891 – March 28, 1972) was an admiral in the United States Navy who served as Chief of Naval Operations from December 15, 1947 to November 1, 1949. He also held several significant surface commands during Wor ...

, the chief of the

Bureau of Naval Personnel The Bureau of Naval Personnel (BUPERS) in the United States Department of the Navy is similar to the human resources department of a corporation. The bureau provides administrative leadership and policy planning for the Office of the Chief of Na ...

. In March 1947, he was attached to the Atomic Defense Section (OPNAV 36) under

Rear Admiral Rear admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, equivalent to a major general and air vice marshal and above that of a commodore and captain, but below that of a vice admiral. It is regarded as a two star " admiral" rank. It is often rega ...

William S. Parsons.

USS ''Amberjack''

In May 1948, he was given command of , a

GUPPY II The Greater Underwater Propulsion Power Program (GUPPY) was initiated by the United States Navy after World War II to improve the submerged speed, maneuverability, and endurance of its submarines. (The "Y" in the acronym was added for pronounc ...

modified submarine. ''Amberjack'' gained the nickname "Anglejack" because of its pioneering use of steep diving and surfacing angles, which was immortalized in the January 1950 edition of the ''National Geographic'' magazine. ''Current Biography'' (1960), p. 22 During war games, ''Amberjack'' photographed the opposing task force's flagship through its periscope and sent the admiral a copy inscribed with "Regards from Ned Beach and the Amberjack." Cmdr Edward L Beach

Joint Chiefs of Staff

His tour as skipper of ''Amberjack'' was abbreviated as he was called to Washington to serve as naval aide to General

Omar Bradley Omar Nelson Bradley (February 12, 1893April 8, 1981) was a senior officer of the United States Army during and after World War II, rising to the rank of General of the Army. Bradley was the first chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and over ...

, the first

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) is the presiding officer of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). The chairman is the highest-ranking and most senior military officer in the United States Armed Forces Chairman: app ...

, in August 1949. In that post, Beach witnessed first hand the events surrounding the

Revolt of the Admirals The "Revolt of the Admirals" was a policy and funding dispute within the United States government during the Cold War in 1949, involving a number of retired and active-duty United States Navy admirals. These included serving officers Admiral L ...

USS ''Trigger''

Upon completing his tour of duty as Bradley's aide in March 1951, Beach was named prospective commanding officer of the new , then under construction. Upon commissioning of ''Trigger II'', which was named for lost during World War II, he became commanding officer of the second submarine to be completed in the new after World War II.

The White House

From 1953 to 1957, Beach was naval aide to President Dwight D. Eisenhower. As naval aide Beach was responsible for the management of

Camp David Camp David is the country retreat for the president of the United States of America. It is located in the wooded hills of Catoctin Mountain Park, in Frederick County, Maryland, near the towns of Thurmont and Emmitsburg, about north-northwest ...

, the White House Mess, and for the presidential

yacht A yacht is a sailing or power vessel used for pleasure, cruising, or racing. There is no standard definition, though the term generally applies to vessels with a cabin intended for overnight use. To be termed a , as opposed to a , such a pleasu ...

. Because Eisenhower had made a campaign promise to get rid of the presidential yacht, neither the efforts of Beach nor those of Mrs. Eisenhower were successful in dissuading him from that course of action. The elimination of ''Williamsburg'' proved to be a bureaucratic hassle for Beach and the Navy Department since ''Williamsburg'' was the funnel for all budgets and personnel for Camp David and the White House Mess. While working the White House, Beach volunteered to be the coordinator on the White House staff for all plans to protect the president in case of nuclear attack. Since the Secret Service in 1953 did not deem helicopter travel as safe, evacuating the president on short notice was planned by Beach via the Potomac River, several PT (patrol torpedo) boats and a high speed race down river to meet up with a waiting Navy ship. It was Beach who spearheaded the effort to get

First Lady First lady is an unofficial title usually used for the wife, and occasionally used for the daughter or other female relative, of a non- monarchical head of state or chief executive. The term is also used to describe a woman seen to be at the ...

Mamie Eisenhower Mary Geneva "Mamie" Eisenhower (; November 14, 1896 – November 1, 1979) was the first lady of the United States from 1953 to 1961 as the wife of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Born in Boone, Iowa, she was raised in a wealthy household i ...

to christen , the world's first

nuclear-powered submarine A nuclear submarine is a submarine powered by a nuclear reactor, but not necessarily nuclear-armed. Nuclear submarines have considerable performance advantages over "conventional" (typically diesel-electric) submarines. Nuclear propulsion, ...

, in 1954. Beach was advanced to the rank of

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

on October 1, 1956.

USS ''Salamonie''

Beach left the White House in January 1957, and assumed command of , a

fleet replenishment oiler A replenishment oiler or replenishment tanker is a naval auxiliary ship with fuel tanks and dry cargo holds which can supply both fuel and dry stores during underway replenishment (UNREP) at sea. Many countries have used replenishment oilers. The ...

, on March 15. He completed a deployment to the

U.S. Sixth Fleet The Sixth Fleet is a numbered fleet of the United States Navy operating as part of United States Naval Forces Europe. The Sixth Fleet is headquartered at Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy. The officially stated mission of the Sixth Fleet in ...

, operating in the

Mediterranean Sea The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on ...

, in December 1957. Captain Edward Beach USS Triton 17 FEB 1960

USS ''Triton''

In January 1958, he attended the Navy's training program for atomic reactors in order to qualify for his next command, , the nation's fifth nuclear-powered submarine. In November 1959, Beach took command of USS ''Triton'', the only American nuclear-powered submarine to be equipped with two nuclear reactors. Departing New London on what was supposed to have been a "shake-down" cruise in February 1960, ''Triton'' began a 1960

of the Earth in 84 days without surfacing, covering over , an unprecedented feat. The route of ''Triton'' followed roughly that of

Ferdinand Magellan Ferdinand Magellan ( or ; pt, Fernão de Magalhães, ; es, link=no, Fernando de Magallanes, ; 4 February 1480 – 27 April 1521) was a Portuguese explorer. He is best known for having planned and led the 1519 Spanish expedition to the Eas ...

in 1519-1522. The scientific and military significance of the ''Triton'' voyage was overshadowed by the

U-2 Incident On 1 May 1960, a United States U-2 spy plane was shot down by the Soviet Air Defence Forces while conducting photographic aerial reconnaissance deep inside Soviet territory. The single-seat aircraft, flown by American pilot Francis Gary Power ...

which broke just as USS ''Triton'' was returning. For successfully completing its mission, ''Triton'' was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. At a special White House ceremony, Captain Beach was presented the

Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight u ...

by President Eisenhower.Citation
accompanying Award of Legion of Merit to Captain Edward L. Beach, USN, dated May 10, 1960 Beach wrote about ''Triton''s voyage in his book ''Around the World Submerged: The Voyage of the Triton'', published in 1962. Following her post-shakedown availability, ''Triton'' deployed to European waters with the Second Fleet to participate in

NATO The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO, ; french: Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord, ), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 member states – 28 European and two N ...

exercises against British naval forces led by the

aircraft carrier An aircraft carrier is a warship that serves as a seagoing airbase, equipped with a full-length flight deck and facilities for carrying, arming, deploying, and recovering aircraft. Typically, it is the capital ship of a fleet, as it allows a ...

s and under the command of

Sir Charles Madden. This deployment was culminated with a port visit to

Bremerhaven Bremerhaven (, , Low German: ''Bremerhoben'') is a city at the seaport of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, a state of the Federal Republic of Germany. It forms a semi-enclave in the state of Lower Saxony and is located at the mouth of the Riv ...

West Germany West Germany is the colloquial term used to indicate the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG; german: Bundesrepublik Deutschland , BRD) between its formation on 23 May 1949 and the German reunification through the accession of East Germany on 3 ...

, the first visit by a nuclear-powered ship to a European port.

Subron 8, National War College and OpNav

After his tour in command of ''Triton'', Beach commanded Submarine Squadron Eight from July 1961 to August 1962. He was next a student at the

National War College The National War College (NWC) of the United States is a school in the National Defense University. It is housed in Roosevelt Hall on Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., the third-oldest Army post still active. History The National War Col ...

, where he completed a course of study in July 1963. At the same time he earned a

Master of Arts A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Tho ...

degree in

international relations International relations (IR), sometimes referred to as international studies and international affairs, is the scientific study of interactions between sovereign states. In a broader sense, it concerns all activities between states—such ...

from

George Washington University , mottoeng = "God is Our Trust" , established = , type = Private federally chartered research university , academic_affiliations = , endowment = $2.8 billion (2022) , presi ...

. In May 1963, Eugene Parks Wilkinson and Beach were in competition for selection to rear admiral, and the board selected Wilkinson with Beach's sincere congratulations. From July 1963 to December 1966, Beach served in the

office of the Chief of Naval Operations An office is a space where an organization's employees perform administrative work in order to support and realize objects and goals of the organization. The word "office" may also denote a position within an organization with specific du ...

(OpNav) preparing annual budget reports for Congress and preparing the

Secretary of the Navy The secretary of the Navy (or SECNAV) is a statutory officer () and the head (chief executive officer) of the Department of the Navy, a military department (component organization) within the United States Department of Defense. By law, the se ...

( Fred Korth, Paul B. Fay, and

Paul H. Nitze Paul Henry Nitze (January 16, 1907 – October 19, 2004) was an American politician who served as United States Deputy Secretary of Defense, U.S. Secretary of the Navy, and Director of Policy Planning for the U.S. State Department. He is best kno ...

) and the

Chief of Naval Operations The chief of naval operations (CNO) is the professional head of the United States Navy. The position is a statutory office () held by an admiral who is a military adviser and deputy to the secretary of the Navy. In a separate capacity as a memb ...

(

George W. Anderson Jr. George Whelan Anderson Jr. (December 15, 1906 – March 20, 1992) was an admiral in the United States Navy and a diplomat. Serving as the Chief of Naval Operations between 1961 and 1963, he was in charge of the US blockade of Cuba during the 19 ...

and

David L. McDonald David Lamar McDonald (September 12, 1906 – December 16, 1997) was an admiral in the United States Navy, who served as the 17th Chief of Naval Operations from 1 August 1963 to 1 August 1967 during the Vietnam War era. Early life and education Mc ...

) for hearings before Congressional committees. Beach retired from active duty with the rank of captain in 1966, after 27 years of service.

Naval War College and Capitol Hill

Beach retired from active duty in the Navy in 1966, and was appointed as the Stephen B. Luce Chair of Naval Science at the

Naval War College The Naval War College (NWC or NAVWARCOL) is the staff college and "Home of Thought" for the United States Navy at Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island. The NWC educates and develops leaders, supports defining the future Navy and associ ...

in Newport, Rhode Island — the first person to hold that position. During his tenure he was the editor of the ''Naval War College Review''. Subsequently, Beach served for seven years as staff director of the United States Senate Republican Policy Committee, and for one year as chief of staff for Senator

Jeremiah Denton Jeremiah Andrew Denton Jr. (July 15, 1924 – March 28, 2014) was an American politician and military officer who served as a U.S. Senator representing Alabama from 1981 to 1987. He was the first Republican to be popularly elected to a Sen ...

(R-Alabama).

Author

After World War II, Beach wrote extensively in his spare time following in the footsteps of his father, who was also a career naval officer and author. His first book ''Submarine!'' (1952) was a compilation of accounts of several wartime patrols made by his own as well as other submarines, which ''Time'' magazine called "the liveliest and most authentic account of underseas combat to come out of World War II." In all, Beach published thirteen books, but is best known for his first novel, ''

'' (1955), which appeared on ''

The New York Times Book Review ''The New York Times Book Review'' (''NYTBR'') is a weekly paper-magazine supplement to the Sunday edition of ''The New York Times'' in which current non-fiction and fiction books are reviewed. It is one of the most influential and widely rea ...

'' bestseller list for several months. A

movie A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...

of the same name, based loosely on the novel and starring

Clark Gable William Clark Gable (February 1, 1901November 16, 1960) was an American film actor, often referred to as "The King of Hollywood". He had roles in more than 60 motion pictures in multiple genres during a career that lasted 37 years, three decades ...

and

Burt Lancaster Burton Stephen Lancaster (November 2, 1913 – October 20, 1994) was an American actor and producer. Initially known for playing tough guys with a tender heart, he went on to achieve success with more complex and challenging roles over a 45-yea ...

, was released by

United Artists United Artists Corporation (UA), currently doing business as United Artists Digital Studios, is an American digital production company. Founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks, the stu ...

in 1958 (Beach was unhappy with the adaptation). Beach penned two sequels to ''Run Silent, Run Deep'': ''Dust on the Sea'' (1972), relating in detail a war patrol by ''Eel'' leading a wolfpack, and ''Cold is the Sea'' (1978), set in 1961 aboard a

nuclear submarine A nuclear submarine is a submarine powered by a nuclear reactor, but not necessarily nuclear-armed. Nuclear submarines have considerable performance advantages over "conventional" (typically diesel-electric) submarines. Nuclear propulsion, ...

. In addition to ''Submarine!'', Beach wrote several more books on naval history, including ''The Wreck of the Memphis'' (1966); ''United States Navy: 200 Years'' (1986), a general history of the Navy; ''Scapegoats: A Defense of Kimmel and Short at Pearl Harbor'' (1995); and ''Salt and Steel: Reflections of a Submariner'' (1999). ''Keepers of the Sea'' (1983) is a pictorial record of the modern navy with photography by

Fred J. Maroon Fred Joseph Maroon (September 24, 1924 – November 5, 2001) was an American photographer who worked in a breadth of photographic categories over his career. A trained architect, he worked in fashion, travel, portraiture, food and architectural ph ...

. For a number of years Beach was co-editor of ''Naval Terms Dictionary'' as that standard reference work passed through several editions. His last work, completed shortly before his death, was to prepare for publication his father's manuscript of his own distinguished service in the navy. That book, ''From Annapolis to Scapa Flow: The Autobiography of Edward L. Beach, Sr'' (2003), is Captain Beach Sr.'s personal account of the navy from the age of sail to the age of steam. In addition to his books, Beach was a prolific author of articles and book reviews for periodicals ranging from ''Blue Book'' to ''

National Geographic ''National Geographic'' (formerly the ''National Geographic Magazine'', sometimes branded as NAT GEO) is a popular American monthly magazine published by National Geographic Partners. Known for its photojournalism, it is one of the most widel ...

'', and ''Naval History'' to ''American Heritage''.

Bibliography

Fiction: *''

'' (New York:

Holt, Rinehart and Winston Holt McDougal is an American publishing company, a division of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, that specializes in textbooks for use in high schools. The Holt name is derived from that of U.S. publisher Henry Holt (1840–1926), co-founder of the e ...

, 1955) *''Dust on the Sea'' (New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1972) *''Cold is the Sea'' (New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1978) Memoirs: *''From Annapolis to Scapa Flow: The Autobiography of

Edward L. Beach, Sr. Edward Latimer Beach Sr. (June 30, 1867December 20, 1943) was a United States Navy officer and author. He served in three of the United States' wars, ranging from the Spanish–American War up through World War I. He was the father of the futur ...

'' (Annapolis Maryland:

Naval Institute The United States Naval Institute (USNI) is a private non-profit military association that offers independent, nonpartisan forums for debate of national security issues. In addition to publishing magazines and books, the Naval Institute holds ...

Press, 2002) co-authored with his father *''Salt and Steel: Reflections of a Submariner'' (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1999) Non-fiction: *''Around the World Submerged: The Voyage of the Triton'' (New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1962) *''Keepers of the Sea'' (photos by Fred J. Maroon) (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1983) *''Naval Terms Dictionary'', in collaboration with John V. Noel Jr, 4th edition (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1971) *''Naval Terms Dictionary'', in collaboration with John V. Noel Jr, 5th edition (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1978) *''Naval Terms Dictionary'', in collaboration with John V. Noel Jr, 6th edition (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1988) *''Scapegoats: A Defense of Kimmel and Short at

Pearl Harbor Pearl Harbor is an American lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. It was often visited by the Naval fleet of the United States, before it was acquired from the Hawaiian Kingdom by the U.S. with the signing of the ...

'' (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1995) *''Submarine!'' (New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1952) *''The United States Navy: 200 Years'' (New York: Henry Holt, 1986) *''The Wreck of the Memphis'' (New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1966) ''Run Silent, Run Deep'' and ''The Wreck of the Memphis'' were republished in hardcover by the Naval Institute Press as part of its ''Classics of Naval Literature'' series while ''Around the World Submerged'', ''Submarine!'', ''Dust on the Sea'', and ''Cold is the Sea'' were reprinted in quality paperback editions as part of its ''Bluejacket Books'' series

Family

Beach married Ingrid Schenck, daughter of

Stanford University Stanford University, officially Leland Stanford Junior University, is a private research university in Stanford, California. The campus occupies , among the largest in the United States, and enrolls over 17,000 students. Stanford is conside ...

professor Hubert G. Schenck and Inga Bergström Schenck, in Palo Alto in 1944. They had four children: Inga-Marie (1945–1948), Edward A. (b. 1948), Hugh S. (b. 1949) and Ingrid Alice (b. 1952).

Awards and decorations

During his service in the United States Navy, Beach was awarded the

, the

Silver Star The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against an e ...

with Gold Star in lieu of a second Silver Star, the

, the

Bronze Star The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is a United States Armed Forces decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone. W ...

with a combat Distinguished "V" and Gold Star in lieu of a second Bronze Star Medal with a combat Distinguished "V", Letter of Commendation Ribbon with Gold Star in lieu of second award and "V" device from the Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet, three Presidential Unit Citations, the

Navy Unit Commendation The Navy Unit Commendation (NUC) is a United States Navy unit award that was established by order of the Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal on 18 December 1944. History Navy and U.S. Marine Corps commands may recommend any Navy or Marine Co ...

American Defense Service Medal The American Defense Service Medal was a military award of the United States Armed Forces, established by , by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, on June 28, 1941. The medal was intended to recognize those military service members who had served ...

with Atlantic Fleet Clasp, the

American Campaign Medal The American Campaign Medal is a military award of the United States Armed Forces which was first created on November 6, 1942, by issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The medal was intended to recognize those military members who had perfo ...

, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three engagement stars, the

World War II Victory Medal The World War II Victory Medal is a service medal of the United States military which was established by an Act of Congress on 6 July 1945 (Public Law 135, 79th Congress) and promulgated by Section V, War Department Bulletin 12, 1945. The Wo ...

and the

National Defense Service Medal The National Defense Service Medal (NDSM) is a service award of the United States Armed Forces established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953. It is awarded to every member of the US Armed Forces who has served during any one of four ...

with bronze service star in lieu of second award.

Navy Cross

Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 345 – December 1945

Silver Star

Gold Star to denote a second Silver Star:

Legion of Merit

The White House – May 10, 1960

Bronze Star, with Combat "V"

Gold Star in lieu of second Bronze Star, with Combat"V":

Letter of commendation

:Letter of Commendation Ribbon with Gold Star in lieu of second award and "V" device from the Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet:

Presidential Unit Citation

USS ''Trigger''

USS ''Tirante''

USS ''Triton''

:The White House – May 10, 1960

Navy Unit Commendation

USS ''Trigger''

Other awards

File:ADSM.png,

with Atlantic Fleet clasp File:AmericanCM.png,

File:ASPCFCM.png, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three

battle stars A service star is a miniature bronze or silver five-pointed star inch (4.8 mm) in diameter that is authorized to be worn by members of the eight uniformed services of the United States on medals and ribbons to denote an additional award or ser ...

File:WWIIVictory.gif,

File:National Defense Service Medal.png,

with bronze service star in lieu of second award

Honors

*Sword of the Class of 1897 from the

United States Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy (US Naval Academy, USNA, or Navy) is a federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as Secretary of the Navy. The Naval Academy ...

upon Beach's graduation in 1939. *Giant of Adventure Award (1960) from the popular men's magazine ''Argosy'', which dubbed Beach the "Magellan of the Deep" for the submerged

by USS ''Triton''. * Honorary Doctor of Science (Sc.D) from the

American International College American International College (AIC) is a private college in Springfield, Massachusetts. History American International College was originally established on July 18, 1885, as the French Protestant College by Rev. Calvin E. Amaron, who soug ...

, whose citation reads: "Your most recent exploit in commanding the largest submarine in existence during an historic submerged voyage around the globe has won for you and your crew the admiration of the world you circled." * Magellanic Premium (1961) from the

American Philosophical Society The American Philosophical Society (APS), founded in 1743 in Philadelphia, is a scholarly organization that promotes knowledge in the sciences and humanities through research, professional meetings, publications, library resources, and communit ...

in recognition of the first submerged

by the ''Triton''. * Theodore and Franklin D. Roosevelt Prize in Naval History (1987) from the New York Council of the Navy League, in cooperation with the

Roosevelt Institute The Roosevelt Institute is a liberal American think tank. According to the organization, it exists "to carry forward the legacy and values of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt by developing progressive ideas and bold leadership in the service of rest ...

and the

Theodore Roosevelt Association The Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA) is a historical and cultural organization dedicated to honoring the life and work of Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919), the 26th President of the United States. The group is based in Oyster Bay, New York, whe ...

, for his book ''The United States Navy: 200 Years'' (Henry Holt, 1986). *

Alfred Thayer Mahan Award for Literary Achievement The Alfred Thayer Mahan Award for Literary Achievement is awarded each year by the Navy League of the United States. The award is named for an American naval historian and theorist, Rear Admiral Alfred Thayer Mahan, United States Navy who, through h ...

(1980; 2000) from the Navy League. *The

Naval Historical Foundation The Naval Historical Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded in 1926, has a broad mission to preserve and promote the naval history of the United States by supporting official Sea Services programs and institutions, meeting the needs of the pu ...

History Prize has been renamed The Captain Edward L. Beach Prize. *The Beach Award for non-technical writing or documentation that promotes personal submarines presented by the Personal Submersible Organization (PSUBS.ORG) is named in Captain Beach's honor. *Beach Hall, the

United States Naval Institute The United States Naval Institute (USNI) is a private non-profit military association that offers independent, nonpartisan forums for debate of national security issues. In addition to publishing magazines and books, the Naval Institute holds se ...

's headquarters on the grounds of the United States Naval Academy in

Annapolis, Maryland Annapolis ( ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Maryland and the county seat of, and only incorporated city in, Anne Arundel County. Situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east ...

, is named in honor of both Captains Beach. Captain Beach Jr., is buried in front of the entrance to Beach Hall, close to the bank of the Severn River of

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean t ...

. *

U.S. Navy Museum The National Museum of the United States Navy, or U.S. Navy Museum for short, is the flagship museum of the United States Navy and is located in the former Breech Mechanism Shop of the old Naval Gun Factory on the grounds of the Washington Navy ...

included Captain Beach, , and Operation Sandblast as part of the Technology for the Nuclear Age: Nuclear Propulsion display for its Cold War exhibit. *

Samuel Eliot Morison Award for Naval Literature The Samuel Eliot Morison Award for Naval Literature is for literature about the United States Navy. The award was created in 1982 by the New York Commandery of the Naval Order of the United States, who administers and chooses the winner which is a ...

(1999) for ''Salt and Steel: Reflections of a Submariner''

Legacy

Author

Tom Clancy Thomas Leo Clancy Jr. (April 12, 1947 – October 1, 2013) was an American novelist. He is best known for his technically detailed espionage and military-science storylines set during and after the Cold War. Seventeen of his novels have b ...

summarized Beach's many accomplishments and contributions when he wrote: Ed Offley of ''DefenseWatch'' wrote:

References

External links

Papers and Records of Edward L. Beach, Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential LibraryEdward L. Beach Papers, 1883-2000 (bulk 1951-1999) MS 422
held b
Special Collections & ArchivesNimitz Library
at th
United States Naval Academy
*
Reminiscences of Edward Latimer Beach
—

Oral History Oral history is the collection and study of historical information about individuals, families, important events, or everyday life using audiotapes, videotapes, or transcriptions of planned interviews. These interviews are conducted with people wh ...

– Eisenhower Administrative File –

Columbia University Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...

"In Memoriam – Capt. Edward L. Beach Jr. USN (SS)" by Ed Offley.
– ''DefenseWatch'' (December 4, 2002)

reprint – ''

The Daily Telegraph ''The Daily Telegraph'', known online and elsewhere as ''The Telegraph'', is a national British daily broadsheet newspaper published in London by Telegraph Media Group and distributed across the United Kingdom and internationally. It was f ...

'' – December 21, 2002
"Captain Edward L. Beach"
– ''Times'' (London) – December 4, 2002
Captain Edward L. Beach Jr.: "His Work Will Live On"
Naval Institute ''Proceedings'' (January 2003)
Profile @ Submarine Pioneers, Office of Naval Information (CINFO)
— ''

All Hands ''All Hands'' was a monthly published magazine of the United States Navy for its sailors. It had been published since August 1922 under different names; the current title was established in 1945. Its last issue was published on December 2011, al ...

'' magazine
Captain Edward L. Beach biography
at FleetSubmarine.com *

@ USS ''Salamonie'' (AO-26) Official Website

@ USS ''Triton'' (SSRN-586) Website

by JOC Michael Foutch, USN. Office of Naval Information – Department of the Navy – Washington, D.C.

includes article by Richard Goldstein, ''

'' dated December 2, 2002
Captain Edward L. Beach, USN, (1867-1943)
''Dictionary of American Fighting Ships'', Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. (Father's biography)
Seapower Confronts the Twenty-first Century: An Interview With Edward L. Beach
by Nathan Miller – ''American Heritage'' – April/May 1983 {{DEFAULTSORT:Beach, Edward L. Jr. 1918 births 2002 deaths 20th-century American novelists 20th-century American male writers United States Navy personnel of World War II National War College alumni American naval historians Naval War College faculty Beach Jr United States Navy captains United States submarine commanders Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States) Recipients of the Silver Star Recipients of the Legion of Merit Burials at the United States Naval Academy Cemetery Circumnavigators of the globe Eisenhower administration personnel Military aides to the President of the United States Military personnel from New York City Writers from Palo Alto, California American male novelists American male non-fiction writers Historians from New York (state) Historians from California

Naval career

World War II

Cold War

USS ''Amberjack''

Joint Chiefs of Staff

USS ''Trigger''

The White House

USS ''Salamonie''

USS ''Triton''

Subron 8, National War College and OpNav

Naval War College and Capitol Hill

Author

Bibliography

Family

Awards and decorations

Navy Cross

Silver Star

Legion of Merit

Bronze Star, with Combat "V"

Letter of commendation

Presidential Unit Citation

USS ''Trigger''

USS ''Tirante''

USS ''Triton''

Navy Unit Commendation

USS ''Trigger''

Other awards

Honors

Legacy

References

Further reading

External links