Frederick Julian Becton | |
---|---|
Born | Des Arc, Arkansas | May 15, 1908
Died | December 25, 1995 Wynnewood, Pennsylvania | (aged 87)
Buried | |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/ | United States Navy |
Years of service | 1931–1966 |
Rank | Rear Admiral |
Commands held | USS Aaron Ward USS Laffey Destroyer Division 202 USS Glynn USS Iowa Cruiser Division 5 Mine Force, Pacific Fleet Naval Base, Los Angeles, California Naval Reserve Training Command |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Awards | Navy Cross Silver Star (4) Croix de Guerre (France) |
Rear Admiral Frederick Julian Becton (May 15, 1908 – December 25, 1995) was a decorated United States Navy officer. He is probably best remembered for commanding the destroyer USS Laffey (DD-724) in World War II during an intense Japanese kamikaze attack.[1][2]
Becton was born in Des Arc, Arkansas, on May 15, 1908 to John E. and Ruby Brown Becton.[3] He attended Hot Springs High School. In high school, he dated future actress and musician Imogen Carpenter.[4]
Becton died at the age of 87 on Christmas Day 1995 at his home in Wynnewood.[1][2][10][8] He was interred at Arlington National Cemetery.[11] He was survived by Elizabeth, his wife of 46 years, and their two daughters.[2]
His awards include:[12]
Navy Cross | Silver Star w/ three 5⁄16" Gold Stars | ||||||||||
Navy Commendation Medal w/ "V" device and one 5⁄16" Gold Star |
Navy Presidential Unit Citation w/ two 3⁄16" Bronze Stars |
China Service Medal | |||||||||
American Defense Service Medal w/ bronze "A" Device |
American Campaign Medal | European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal w/ one 3⁄16" Bronze Star | |||||||||
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ one 3⁄16" Silver Star and two 3⁄16" Bronze Stars |
World War II Victory Medal | National Defense Service Medal | |||||||||
Philippine Liberation Medal w/ two 3⁄16" bronze stars |
Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation | Croix de Guerre w/ Gold Star |
For extraordinary heroism as Commanding Officer of the USS Laffey in action against enemy Japanese forces off Okinawa, on April 16, 1945. With his ship under savage attack by thirty hostile planes, Commander Becton skillfully countered the fanatical enemy tactics, employing every conceivable maneuver and directing all his guns in an intense and unrelenting barrage of fire to protect his ship against the terrific onslaught. Crashed by six of the overwhelming aerial force which penetrated the deadly antiaircraft defense, the USS Laffey, under his valiant command fought fiercely for over two hours against the attackers, blasting eight of the enemy out of the sky. Although explosions of the suicide planes and two additional bombs caused severe structural damage, loss of armament and heavy personnel casualties, Commander Becton retained complete control of his ship, coolly directing emergency repairs in the midst of furious combat, and emerged at the close of the action with his gallant warship afloat and still an effective fighting unit...
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Operations Officer on the Staff of Commander Destroyer Squadron Twenty-One on the Flagship USS Nicholas in night engagements with enemy surface forces n the Solomon Islands Area, July 5 to 13 and August 17-18, 1943. With complete understanding of objectives and tactics, (he) expertly assisted and advised his Squadron commander in controlling and coordinating the attacks of the vanguard destroyers of a cruiser-destroyer force in which several enemy ships were sunk and many damaged. In a subsequent skillfully planned assault, his flagship led a destroyer division against an attacking force and by combined gun and torpedo fire, caused the destruction of two destroyers, severe damage to a third and the annihilation of a number of landing barges...
For meritorious performance of duty as Commanding Officer of the USS Laffey during the amphibious assault on Normandy, France in June 1944, and the bombardment of enemy defenses at Cherbourg, France, June 25, 1944. Commander Becton maneuvered his ship through heavily mined waters and under heavy and accurately controlled gunfire from enemy shore batteries, protecting vessels in the Western Task Force Area from enemy surface forces and submarines. During the bombardment of Cherbourg, though the USS Laffey suffered light damage from superior enemy gunfire and was subjected to further heavy and accurate fire (he) courageously maintained a continuous fire on the superior batteries to cover the retirement of the minesweepers and battleships, and…interposed himself between the shore batteries and the other units of the bombardment group to divert the fire of the shore batteries from those units. Later in the action when again subjected to heavy enemy fire that straddled the USS Laffey, (he) skillfully maneuvered his ship to evade the fire and placed his ship in a position to cover with gunfire or smoke the battleships then retiring out of range of enemy batteries...
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of the USS Laffey during action against enemy Japanese forces off Ormoc Bay, Layte, Philippine Islands, on December 7, 1944. Fighting his ship gallantly in the face of withering fire from hostile shore batteries and constant attack by enemy aircraft, Commander Becton boldly directed the Laffey’s accurate, determined gunfire against the heavily fortified hostile shores to neutralize Japanese defenses and pave the way for our assaulting troops. With a strong force of enemy aircraft attempting to bomb and crash our ships during retirement, he brought his powerful antiaircraft guns to bear with deadly accuracy, thereby providing an effective screen for the convoy and insuring a safe withdrawal...
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of the USS Laffey during action against enemy Japanese forces in the Philippine Islands Area in January 1945. Boldly penetrating dangerous restricted waters of Lingayen Gulf during the initial bombardment and assault at Luzon, Commander Becton fought his ship gallantly despite persistent attacks by hostile aircraft and devastating fire directed from Japanese shore batteries, successfully carrying out extensive antiaircraft screening missions, and bombardment of heavily fortified positions on the beach and providing effective fire support for underwater demolition units. By his ship-handling, brilliant leadership and zealous devotion to duty in the face of grave peril, (he) contributed materially to the success of our forces in recapturing the Philippines...