World War II Honoree

Harold B. Beck

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Brooklyn, New York

Honored By

Post #6 J W V

VOLUNTEERED IN THE U.S. NAVY APRIL 8, 1943 AND WAS DISCHARGED APRIL 15, 1946. STATIONED ON A SHIP THE USS MARY ELLEN P-499. IT WAS A SPECIAL SHIP WHICH LOOKED FOR SUBMARINES. THE SHIP WAS EQUIPPED WITH RADAR AND SONAR. DAMAGED A GERMAN SUBMARINE AND PUT IT OUT OF COMMISSION. ALL ON BOARD THE SUBMARINE SURRENDERED AND BROUGHT ALL OF THE PRISONERS BACK TO CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA TO A PRISONER OF WAR CAMP. AFTER THE WAR, SPECIALLY TRAINED IN ELECTRONICS. ASSIGNED TO AN ELECTRONICS PLANT WHICH MANUFACTURED ALTIMETERS FOR THE AIR FORCE. WORKED ON A SPECIAL PROJECT WHICH WAS THE FIRST SPACE FLIGHT OF JOHN GLENN. WIRED THE STABILIZING PANEL FOR THAT FLIGHT, THEN CONTACTED BY A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BULOVA WATCH COMPANY TO WORK ON A SPECIAL MISSILE PROJECT. GENERAL OMAR BRADLEY WAS CHAIRMAN OF THIS PROJECT. WAS UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE FBI AT THIS TIME, TO PREVENT THE ENEMY FROM FINDING OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON. ASSEMBLED THE FIRST 500 FIRING MECHANISM FOR THE MINUTE MAN MISSILE AND THIS WAS ALSO USED TO INTERCONTINENTAL MISSILES AND NUCLEAR WARHEADS.