Frederick Becton

Rear Admiral Frederick Julian Becton (May 15, 1908 – December 25, 1995) was a decorated United States Navy officer. He is probably best remembered for commanding the destroyer in World War II during an intense Japanese kamikaze attack. He attended Hot Springs High School. In high school, he dated future actress and musician Imogen Carpenter.

Naval career Pre-war Becton graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1931 and was commissioned an ensign in the United States Navy on June 4 of that year. One of the passengers aboard the Landing Ship, Tank was then-Lieutenant (junior grade) John F. Kennedy, on his way to take command of Motor Torpedo Boat PT-109. While escorting LST-449 and several other small craft to safety, Aaron Ward was attacked by three Aichi D3A "Val" dive bombers, then three more bombers. Laffey broke up an attack by German E-boats on June 12 and bombarded Cherbourg on June 25. Becton was awarded a second Silver Star for his actions in June. He was interred at Arlington National Cemetery. He was survived by Elizabeth, his wife of 46 years, and their two daughters.

Navy Cross Silver Starw/ three " Gold StarsNavy Commendation Medalw/ "V" device and one " Gold StarNavy Presidential Unit Citationw/ two " Bronze StarsChina Service MedalAmerican Defense Service Medalw/ bronze "A" DeviceAmerican Campaign MedalEuropean-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medalw/ one " Bronze StarAsiatic-Pacific Campaign Medalw/ one " Silver Star and two " Bronze StarsWorld War II Victory MedalNational Defense Service MedalPhilippine Liberation Medalw/ two " bronze starsPhilippine Republic Presidential Unit CitationCroix de Guerrew/ Gold Star

Navy Cross For extraordinary heroism as Commanding Officer of the USS Laffey in action against enemy Japanese forces off Okinawa, on April 16, 1945. With his ship under savage attack by thirty hostile planes, Commander Becton skillfully countered the fanatical enemy tactics, employing every conceivable maneuver and directing all his guns in an intense and unrelenting barrage of fire to protect his ship against the terrific onslaught. Crashed by six of the overwhelming aerial force which penetrated the deadly antiaircraft defense, the USS Laffey, under his valiant command fought fiercely for over two hours against the attackers, blasting eight of the enemy out of the sky. Although explosions of the suicide planes and two additional bombs caused severe structural damage, loss of armament and heavy personnel casualties, Commander Becton retained complete control of his ship, coolly directing emergency repairs in the midst of furious combat, and emerged at the close of the action with his gallant warship afloat and still an effective fighting unit...

Silver Star For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Operations Officer on the Staff of Commander Destroyer Squadron Twenty-One on the Flagship USS Nicholas in night engagements with enemy surface forces n the Solomon Islands Area, July 5 to 13 and August 17-18, 1943. With complete understanding of objectives and tactics, (he) expertly assisted and advised his Squadron commander in controlling and coordinating the attacks of the vanguard destroyers of a cruiser-destroyer force in which several enemy ships were sunk and many damaged. In a subsequent skillfully planned assault, his flagship led a destroyer division against an attacking force and by combined gun and torpedo fire, caused the destruction of two destroyers, severe damage to a third and the annihilation of a number of landing barges...

Silver Star For meritorious performance of duty as Commanding Officer of the USS Laffey during the amphibious assault on Normandy, France in June 1944, and the bombardment of enemy defenses at Cherbourg, France, June 25, 1944. Commander Becton maneuvered his ship through heavily mined waters and under heavy and accurately controlled gunfire from enemy shore batteries, protecting vessels in the Western Task Force Area from enemy surface forces and submarines. During the bombardment of Cherbourg, though the USS Laffey suffered light damage from superior enemy gunfire and was subjected to further heavy and accurate fire (he) courageously maintained a continuous fire on the superior batteries to cover the retirement of the minesweepers and battleships, and…interposed himself between the shore batteries and the other units of the bombardment group to divert the fire of the shore batteries from those units. Later in the action when again subjected to heavy enemy fire that straddled the USS Laffey, (he) skillfully maneuvered his ship to evade the fire and placed his ship in a position to cover with gunfire or smoke the battleships then retiring out of range of enemy batteries...

Silver Star For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of the USS Laffey during action against enemy Japanese forces off Ormoc Bay, Layte, Philippine Islands, on December 7, 1944. Fighting his ship gallantly in the face of withering fire from hostile shore batteries and constant attack by enemy aircraft, Commander Becton boldly directed the Laffey’s accurate, determined gunfire against the heavily fortified hostile shores to neutralize Japanese defenses and pave the way for our assaulting troops. With a strong force of enemy aircraft attempting to bomb and crash our ships during retirement, he brought his powerful antiaircraft guns to bear with deadly accuracy, thereby providing an effective screen for the convoy and insuring a safe withdrawal...

Silver Star For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of the USS Laffey during action against enemy Japanese forces in the Philippine Islands Area in January 1945. Boldly penetrating dangerous restricted waters of Lingayen Gulf during the initial bombardment and assault at Luzon, Commander Becton fought his ship gallantly despite persistent attacks by hostile aircraft and devastating fire directed from Japanese shore batteries, successfully carrying out extensive antiaircraft screening missions, and bombardment of heavily fortified positions on the beach and providing effective fire support for underwater demolition units. By his ship-handling, brilliant leadership and zealous devotion to duty in the face of grave peril, (he) contributed materially to the success of our forces in recapturing the Philippines...