World War II Honoree

Thomas Gervus Beckett, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Dallas, Texas

Honored By

Edward W. Samuell, Jr.

Relationship

Cousin

ENTERED SERVICE IN THE NAVY AS LIEUTENANT JUNIOR GRADE ON JULY 2, 1942. WITHIN DAYS AFTER THE SURRENDER OF AMERICAN FORCES ON THE ISLAND OF CORREGIDOR, PHILIPPINES, THE NAVY SOUGHT BECKETT’S HELP BECAUSE OF HIS KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROCUREMENT OF ELECTRONICS. HE APPLIED FOR A COMMISSION ON MAY 25, 1942 AND WAS ACCEPTED. AS ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL BUYING OFFICERS FOR THE BUREAU OF SUPPLIES AND ACCOUNTS, COMMODITY PURCHASE DIVISION, BECKETT NEGOTIATED MANY CONTRACTS, INCLUDING PURCHASING FOR THE NAVY A THEN SECRET ITEM - RADAR. THE NAVY KEPT BECKETT IN THIS ACTIVITY UNTIL AFTER V-J DAY IN SPITE OF HIS REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO SEEK SEA DUTY ABOARD A PACIFIC FLEET BATTLESHIP. HE WAS RELEASED FROM ACTIVE DUTY ON DECEMBER 13, 1945 AS A LIEUTENANT COMMANDER AFTER SERVING HONORABLY FOR OVER THREE YEARS. WHILE SERVING IN THE BUREAU OF SUPPLIES AND ACCOUNTS, BECKETT SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED HIS IDEA OF WELDING A SAFETY PIN TO A FLASHLIGHT. BY PINNING THE FLASHLIGHT TO HIS UNIFORM, A SEAMAN WAS ABLE TO USE BOTH HANDS DURING STORMY SEAS AND, WITH THE FLASHLIGHT PINNED TO POINT UPWARD, THE SEAMAN COULD BE FOUND AT NIGHT BY AIR-SEA RESCUE.