Elliott B. Strauss
| Elliott Bowman Strauss | |
|---|---|
| Born |
March 15, 1903 Washington, D.C. |
| Died |
August 19, 2003 (aged 100) Washington, D.C. |
| Place of burial | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Allegiance |
 United States |
| Service/branch |
 United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1923–1953 |
| Rank | Rear Admiral |
| Commands held |
Brooks (DD-232) Charles Carroll (APA-28) Fresno (CL-121) Destroyer Flotilla 6 |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" |
Elliott Bowman Strauss (March 15, 1903 – August 19, 2003) was a Rear Admiral of the United States Navy, who served during World War II.
Biography
Strauss was the son of Admiral Joseph Strauss and Mary Sweitzer Strauss, and the grandson of Brigadier General Nelson Bowman Sweitzer. He was born in Washington, D.C., and attended The Hotchkiss School in Connecticut.[1]
Strauss entered the United States Naval Academy in June 1919, and graduated in June 1923 with the rank of ensign. Most of his service until the mid-1930s was at sea, but from November 1935 to September 1937 he served as Assistant Naval attaché at the American Embassy in London.[2]
From October 1939 to December 1940 Strauss commanded the destroyer Brooks (DD-232). He then served as navigator of the light cruiser Nashville (CL-43), taking part in the occupation of Iceland in July 1941.[2]
Strauss returned to London in December 1941 to serve on the staff of Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, the Chief of Combined Operations where he participated in the planning of the Dieppe Raid in August 1942.[1][2]
On May 1, 1943, he was promoted to the rank of captain and served until August 1944 on the staff of Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay, the Allied Naval Commander in Chief,[2] working on the planning for the Invasion of Normandy, on June 6, 1944.[3]
He was later awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V", the citation reading:
- "For meritorious achievement as the United States Naval Representative on the Staff of the Chief of Combined Operations in the Dieppe Raid, and while serving on the Staff of the Allied Naval Commander in Chief during the Invasion of Normandy. Embarked as an observer in a British destroyer which rendered close fire support during the Allied raid on Dieppe on August 19, 1942, Captain (then Commander) Strauss obtained information of great value to the United States and Great Britain in the planning and execution of subsequent operations. Ordered to the Normandy beaches on D-Day+2, he applied his comprehensive knowledge of the build-up procedure in solving far shore shipping problems which threatened to delay the operations. Serving with distinction, skill and courage despite enemy air and ground attack throughout these missions to halt German aggression, Captain Strauss upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."[2]
In October 1944 Strauss took command of the attack transport Charles Carroll (APA-28). In January 1945 he was assigned to the Pacific Fleet and voyaged to Guadalcanal, Manus and Bougainville carrying men and supplies. On April 1, 1945, he took part in the landings on Okinawa. Strauss returned to the United States in August 1945 to serve in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations in Washington D.C.[1][2]
From November 1946 to December 1947 Strauss commanded the light cruiser Fresno (CL-121), before returning to England to spend most of 1948 as a student at the Imperial Defence College in London.[2] Strauss later commanded Destroyer Flotilla Six. In March 1952 he became Head of the Long Range Plans Branch in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.[2]
Strauss retired on July 1, 1953, and was advanced to the rank of Rear Admiral.[2]
After retiring from the Navy, Admiral Strauss served in foreign assistance and security assignments in the Agency for International Development and Foreign Service Corps for another eight years, including duty in Paris, Tunisia and the Malagasy Republic.[1] He was a director of the school of engineering at Bucknell University.[1]
Strauss was a longtime director of the Naval Historical Foundation (NHF), serving for a time as its chairman.[3] The NHF was founded in 1926 to address a concern for the preservation of naval history and traditions. At the time of his death, he was chairman emeritus of the Board of Directors.[3]
Strauss was married twice, to Lydia Archbold (whom he divorced) and Beatrice Phillips Strauss.[1] He had three children with his first wife and one with his second.
He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Elliott Bowman Strauss, Rear Admiral, United States Navy". arlingtoncemetery.net. Retrieved 10 November 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Shealy, Bruce (December 2003). "Elliott Bowman Strauss" (PDF). aamuc.org. Retrieved 10 November 2010.
- 1 2 3 Green, Jack A. "Historical Foundation Director Marks 100th Birthday". navy.mil. Retrieved 10 November 2010.