The U. S. Naval Institute Pays Tribute to Captain Edward L. Beach, Jr.

Since 12-05-02

Web-Masters Note:  on 04-26-04, found all links called out on this page as dead and gone from the US Naval Institute.

NSL UPDATE 12-04-2002

1.  Captain Edward L. (Ned) Beach, Jr., USN (Ret.)

The U. S. Naval Institute Pays Tribute to Captain Edward L. Beach, Jr. — Distinguished WWII Submarine Skipper, Naval Institute  Member, and Author

ANNAPOLIS, MD. — Captain Edward L. “Ned” Beach Jr., recipient of ten decorations for gallantry in combat during World War II, including the Navy Cross; author of Run Silent, Run Deep; and longtime Naval Institute member, died at his home in Washington, D.C., Sunday.  Captain Beach had been honored on November 21 by the U.S. Naval Institute’s Board of Directors as a recipient of a Special Award of Merit.  The award is in recognition of his support to the Naval Institute throughout his Navy career and his subsequent career as a naval historian and author.

Naval History magazine Editor in Chief Fred L. Schultz interviewed Captain Beach on November 6, for the February 2003 issue of Naval History, a bimonthly publication of the U.S. Naval Institute.  In tribute to Captain Beach and his family, the Naval Institute is releasing the interview, titled “‘We’ll Go Around the World’,” as well as “Looking Back: the Family Tie,” the latest installment in Paul Stillwell’s bimonthly column. 

The Beach family has been an integral part of the Naval Institute since 1902 when Captain Beach’s father, also Captain Edward L. Beach, was first published in Proceedings magazine.  He went on to fill the collateral assignment of secretary-treasurer of the Naval Institute while serving as a Naval Academy staff member and oversaw the publication of the first Bluejacket’s Manual. 

Following in his father’s footsteps, Ned Beach attended the U.S. Naval Academy with the class of 1939.  His affiliation with the Naval Institute began in 1935 when his father enrolled him as a member during his first year at the Academy.  He graduated second in his class and served as regimental commander.

With the near destruction of the Pacific Fleet by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the Navy was forced to place the burden of the Pacific campaign on the shoulders of its new and virtually untested submarine force. It was from within these ranks that Ned Beach carved his niche in naval history. As a member of America’s "Silent Service," he completed 12 war patrols. His recollections of the exploits of his submarine the Trigger (SS-237), were the subject of his first book, Submarine! (1952). Three years later he penned his first novel, Run Silent, Run Deep, now part of the Naval Institute’s "Classics of Naval Literature" series.  A highly successful naval officer, Ned Beach assured his place in history when he completed the landmark underwater circumnavigation of the globe, a feat chronicled in his third book, Around the World Submerged: The Voyage of the Triton (1962). The Triton’s speed and endurance records stand to this day.

Captain Beach retired from the Navy in 1966.  In the years following, he was an active member of the Naval Institute, serving as a forceful voice in support of the forum, writing for Proceedings magazine, and writing nearly a dozen books, some of which were published by the Naval Institute Press including his memoir, Salt and Steel: Reflections of a Submariner.

In 1998, the Naval Institute sought to honor the contributions of Edward L. Beach senior and junior by naming their new building after the naval officers.  Breaking the tradition of naming historic buildings on the grounds of the Naval Academy after deceased persons who made a significant contribution to naval history, the Naval Institute received permission to name their new home “Beach Hall” after the two men, one of whom was still very much alive.  In April 1999, Beach Hall was dedicated as the home of the Naval Institute.

The Naval Institute will continue to honor the memories of this great father and son team  with the arrival, on December 17, of From Annapolis to Scapa Flow, the long-lost autobiography of Edward L. Beach Sr., with annotations by Edward L. Beach Jr., published by the Naval Institute Press.

Articles referenced in this release are available at the following sites: 
‘We’ll Go Around the World’: http://www.navalinstitute.org/navalhistory/articles03/nhbeach02.htm
Looking Back: The Family Tie: http://www.navalinstitute.org/navalhistory/articles03/nhlookback02.htm

-- Naval Institute --

Funeral Arrangements and services are still pending but will be promulgated when announced.

 C. Michael Garverick
Executive Director
Naval Submarine League  http://www.navalsubleague.com 
(703) 256-0891(V) - (703) 642-5815 (FAX)