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Ernest Eldon Decker
[edit]Ernest Eldon Decker (1913 – 1942) was a United States Navy officer who served in World War II. He was killed in action in the Guadalcanal Campaign.
Early Life
[edit]Decker was born September 15 1913 in Portland, Maine.
The son of insurance executive Ernest Eldon Decker Sr. and Helen Briary (née Purington}.[1] His boyhood home still stands at 46 Lawn Avenue, Portland, Maine.[2]
Education
[edit]He attended University of California, Berkeley from 1931 to 1934[3] enrolled in the College of Letters and Science and was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. In 1934 he was awarded Bachelor of Arts - Public Speaking [4]
Military Service
[edit]Decker enlisted in the Naval Reserve September 14 1940. Lieutenant (junior grade) Decker was killed in action in the Solomon Islands September 5 1942 when his ship USS Gregory (APD-3)[5] was sunk in a night engagement with Japanese surface ships.
Check Ref:
Morison - History of United States Naval Operations in World War II, Vol 5,
The Struggle for Guadalcanal, August 1942 – February 1943
Legacy
[edit]In recognition of his sacrifice USS Decker (DE-47)[6] was named in his honor.
Note on USS Decker: For action of 11May 1944 see: Morison - History of United States Naval Operations in World War II, Vol 10, Appendix relating to UGS40
Namesake: USS Decker (DE-47)
References
[edit]- ^ Who's Who in New England: A Biographical Dictionary of Leading Living Men and Women of the States of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut 2nd edition, 1916 [1]
- ^ 46 Lawn Avenue, Portland, Maine, Built 1900 [2]
- ^ UC Berkeley 1932 Student Register [3]
- ^ UC Berkeley 1935 Commencement Program [4]
- ^ http://www.destroyerhistory.org/flushdeck/ussgregory.html
- ^ https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/d/decker.html
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
