CAPTAIN EDWARD L. BEACH received the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism as Executive Officer, Navigator and Assistant Approach Officer on board the U.S.S. TIRANTE against Japanese surface forces in the East China and Yellow Seas from March 3 to April 25, 1945. He aided immeasurably in sending torpedos into targets with deadly accuracy and contributed to the sinking of three Japanese cargo ships, one large transport, a hostle tanker, three patrol frigates, and one lugger, totaling 28,000 tons of shipping vital to the enemy’s ability to prosecute the war.

Later in his naval career Captain Beach commanded the U.S.S. TRITON and directed the epic circumnavigation which began on 16 February and ended on 10 May 1960. Having followed the route originally charted by Ferdinand Magellan in 1519, the TRITON traveled 36,000 nautical miles, entirely submerged, at an overall elapsed speed of 18 knots–a record for endurance, distance, and speed. He is the noted author of, among other books, Submarine (June 1952), Run Silent, Run Deep (March 1955), and Around the World Submerged – the Voyage of the TRITON (1962).

CAPT. Beach was a life member.