Ellis M. Zacharias

Ellis Mark Zacharias (January 1, 1890 – June 27, 1961) was an American rear admiral of the United States Navy who served during both World War I and World War II. Over a 34-year career, he held various roles, including naval attaché to Japan and deputy director of U.S. Naval Intelligence. After retiring in 1946 for health reasons, Zacharias became a public figure through his work as a narrator for the radio series Secret Missions and the television docudrama Behind Closed Doors.

Biography

Born in Jacksonville, Florida, Zacharias graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1912. His early assignments included service aboard the USS Arkansas (BB-33), which escorted President William Howard Taft to inspect the Panama Canal, and the USS Virginia (BB-13).

In the 1920s, Zacharias was stationed as a naval attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, where he gained experience in Japanese culture, politics, and military strategy. This knowledge informed his work during World War II.