Brothers,
22 MAY 1949
On this date, World War I Veteran, Secretary of the Navy,
first Secretary of Defense and NH Alpha Brother Lieutenant James Vincent Forrestal, U.S. Navy Reserve died in Bethesda,
Maryland. When the U.S. entered World War I, Brother Forrestal enlisted in the
United States Navy as a Seaman Second Class on 02 JUN 1917. After flight training, he was commissioned an Ensign,
Naval Reserve Flying Corps at Boston, Massachusetts, and he gained his wings of
gold before the year was out. He served until late 1919 when he was discharged
with the rank of Lieutenant.
James was born in 1892 in Matteawan (now Beacon), New
York. After graduating from high school, he worked for three years on local
newspapers in New York before entering Dartmouth College in 1911 where he
became a Brother of SigEp. The following year he transferred to Princeton
University, however he left school in his senior year prior to completing work
on this degree.
During World War II,
Brother Forrestal held several government jobs, and was appointed Secretary of
the Navy on 19 MAY 1944. He participated prominently in the development of the
National Security Act of 1947, and went on to become the first Secretary of
Defense upon the creation of that position.
James Forrestal is the second SigEp to have a U.S. Navy
ship named after him, and I proudly served on that ship. The aircraft carrier
USS Forrestal (CV-59), the first U.S.
super-carrier, was affectionately referred to as the “FID,” recognizing the
ships motto “First in Defense.”
President Truman and 2,500 guests attended the ceremony
where Brother Forrestal was laid to rest with full military honors. Honorary
pallbearers at his funeral included Herbert Hoover, former President of the
United States; Fred M. Vinson, Chief Justice of the United States; General of
the Army George C. Marshall, former Secretary of State and former Chief of
Staff, U.S. Army, and General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Respect can be paid to Brother Forrestal in Section 30,
Site 674 SH at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.
22 MAY 1970
AR Beta Brothers Gregory
Felling and Jack Elwin Helms
were commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the U.S. Army at their graduation on
this date.
