Albert L. Becker
Encyclopedia
Albert Lilly Becker was an American
naval
officer during World War II
who served as the first commander of the , a Gato-class submarine, during its initial five wartime patrols in the Pacific Ocean
.
Albert Lilly Becker was born in Brookhaven, MS in 1911, the second child of William Henry Becker and Verna Lilly. He was educated in the parochial and public schools in Brookhaven and entered Mississippi A&M (now Mississippi State) in 1928. He was appointed to the Naval Academy in 1930 and was commissioned as an Ensign in 1934. On a midshipmen's cruise, his ship stopped in Gloucester, Massachusetts, where he met Marjorie Tarr at a dance. They were married in Charleston, SC in 1936. Albert attended Submarine School and was transferred to Pearl Harbor in 1936 where he served on the , and where his daughter Gail Becker Coolidge was born. He was transferred back to the mainland early in 1941 and was stationed at the New London (CT) Submarine Base when the US entered World War II. During the war, he served as Executive Officer of the in the Atlantic and as captain of the USS Cobia in the Pacific. His son Joseph Whitney Becker was born in New London in 1943. Al was awarded the Navy Cross
, the Silver Star
, two Navy Commendation Medal
with Combat V, the Submarine Combat Patrol Insignia
and the Command at Sea insignia. In addition to sinking eight enemy ships, Cobia rescued seven US aviators, whose plane had been shot down in a raid on Saigon, Vietnam http://www.vandruff.com/jean/cobia.html, http://www.vandruff.com/jean/cobia_more.html. Cobia is now a permanent exhibit at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum
in Manitowoc. Becker’s naval career covered thirty years after the Naval Academy, and his post-war commands included the fleet oiler in the Western Pacific, Submarine Division 41 and Submarine Squadron 12, both in Key West, FL, and Minesweeping Flotilla 1 in Sasebo, Japan. He also attended the Naval War College and served in several staff positions. His final assignment was as Chief of Staff to the Commander of the Third Naval District based in New York City, from which he retired with the rank of Captain in 1964. After retiring from the Navy, he and Marge moved back to Brookhaven, where he had a second career in education, serving as a science teacher at Brookhaven High School and as Assistant Principal at Alexander Junior High. He died in 1992 and he and Marge are buried in the family plot in the Catholic Cemetery in Brookhaven.
The citation for his Navy Cross reads:
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the NAVY CROSS to COMMANDER ALBERT LILLY BECKER UNITED STATES NAVY for service as set forth in the following CITATION:
For extraordinary heroism as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. COBIA, during the First War Patrol of that vessel in enemy Japanese-controlled waters, from June 26 to August 14, 1944. Penetrating strong enemy escort screens and pressing home bold torpedo attacks, Commander (then Lieutenant Commander) Becker succeeded in sinking four hostile vessels totalling 22,800 tons. Fighting his ship with daring and tenacity during two surface gun engagements with an independent enemy ship and a group of three armed patrol vessels, he directed attacks resulting in the sinking of all four of these enemy units for a total of 1,450 tons, and successfully evaded an attempted ramming by one of the armed patrol vessels. Although severely depth-charged during the course of the attack, he brought the COBIA to port with but minor damage. Commander Becker's inspiring leadership and devotion to the fulfillment of his hazardous mission was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
For the President,
James Forrestal
Secretary of the Navy
Historical records indicate that Lieutenant Commander
Becker conducted the funeral service for the Cobias one wartime casualty . The Cobia's success in its first, third, fourth, and fifth patrols is attributed to Becker's command
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
naval
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
officer during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
who served as the first commander of the , a Gato-class submarine, during its initial five wartime patrols in the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
.
Albert Lilly Becker was born in Brookhaven, MS in 1911, the second child of William Henry Becker and Verna Lilly. He was educated in the parochial and public schools in Brookhaven and entered Mississippi A&M (now Mississippi State) in 1928. He was appointed to the Naval Academy in 1930 and was commissioned as an Ensign in 1934. On a midshipmen's cruise, his ship stopped in Gloucester, Massachusetts, where he met Marjorie Tarr at a dance. They were married in Charleston, SC in 1936. Albert attended Submarine School and was transferred to Pearl Harbor in 1936 where he served on the , and where his daughter Gail Becker Coolidge was born. He was transferred back to the mainland early in 1941 and was stationed at the New London (CT) Submarine Base when the US entered World War II. During the war, he served as Executive Officer of the in the Atlantic and as captain of the USS Cobia in the Pacific. His son Joseph Whitney Becker was born in New London in 1943. Al was awarded the Navy Cross
Navy Cross
The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
, the Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
, two Navy Commendation Medal
Commendation Medal
The Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military decoration which is presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. For valorous actions in direct contact with an enemy force, but of a lesser degree than required for the award of the Bronze Star, the Valor device may...
with Combat V, the Submarine Combat Patrol Insignia
Submarine Combat Patrol insignia
The Submarine Combat Patrol Insignia is a uniform breast pin worn by officers and men of the United States Navy's Submarine Service who have completed war patrols. Such patrols were conducted during World War II....
and the Command at Sea insignia. In addition to sinking eight enemy ships, Cobia rescued seven US aviators, whose plane had been shot down in a raid on Saigon, Vietnam http://www.vandruff.com/jean/cobia.html, http://www.vandruff.com/jean/cobia_more.html. Cobia is now a permanent exhibit at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum
Wisconsin Maritime Museum
The Wisconsin Maritime Museum is a maritime museum founded in 1968 as the Manitowoc Maritime Museum to ensure that the maritime heritage of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, U.S., and the Great Lakes would not be forgotten...
in Manitowoc. Becker’s naval career covered thirty years after the Naval Academy, and his post-war commands included the fleet oiler in the Western Pacific, Submarine Division 41 and Submarine Squadron 12, both in Key West, FL, and Minesweeping Flotilla 1 in Sasebo, Japan. He also attended the Naval War College and served in several staff positions. His final assignment was as Chief of Staff to the Commander of the Third Naval District based in New York City, from which he retired with the rank of Captain in 1964. After retiring from the Navy, he and Marge moved back to Brookhaven, where he had a second career in education, serving as a science teacher at Brookhaven High School and as Assistant Principal at Alexander Junior High. He died in 1992 and he and Marge are buried in the family plot in the Catholic Cemetery in Brookhaven.
The citation for his Navy Cross reads:
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the NAVY CROSS to COMMANDER ALBERT LILLY BECKER UNITED STATES NAVY for service as set forth in the following CITATION:
For extraordinary heroism as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. COBIA, during the First War Patrol of that vessel in enemy Japanese-controlled waters, from June 26 to August 14, 1944. Penetrating strong enemy escort screens and pressing home bold torpedo attacks, Commander (then Lieutenant Commander) Becker succeeded in sinking four hostile vessels totalling 22,800 tons. Fighting his ship with daring and tenacity during two surface gun engagements with an independent enemy ship and a group of three armed patrol vessels, he directed attacks resulting in the sinking of all four of these enemy units for a total of 1,450 tons, and successfully evaded an attempted ramming by one of the armed patrol vessels. Although severely depth-charged during the course of the attack, he brought the COBIA to port with but minor damage. Commander Becker's inspiring leadership and devotion to the fulfillment of his hazardous mission was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
For the President,
James Forrestal
Secretary of the Navy
Historical records indicate that Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant commander (United States)
Lieutenant commander is a mid-ranking officer rank in the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, with the pay grade of O-4 and NATO rank code OF-3...
Becker conducted the funeral service for the Cobias one wartime casualty . The Cobia's success in its first, third, fourth, and fifth patrols is attributed to Becker's command