Donald Read Eglee Papers relating to his service in the United States Navy and Naval Reserve, 1943-1984, including correspondence, notes, photographs, official service records, printed materials, etc.
Donald Read Eglee was born in 1925 in New Haven, Connecticut. Eglee attended Yale University where he earned a B.A. in Economics in 1949. He married, had three children and continued to reside in New Haven, where he worked at the First National Bank & Trust Company of Connecticut. Eglee soon enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was commissioned in the United States Naval Reserve (USNR). He graduated in July of 1945 from Midshipmen's School at Northwestern University in Chicago, IL and was next sent to the Naval Torpedo Station in Newport, RI. After this, Eglee attended the Naval Training Station in Norfolk, VA and performed permanent duty as a torpedo officer aboard the USS FRED T. BERRY (DD-858) from May 5 through June 18, 1946. Eglee performed overseas duty in Shanghai, China from June 19 through July 7, 1946, and was officially released from active duty on August 21, 1946. On October 29, 1946, he became attached to USNR Organized Surface Division 3-9 at its activation and remained with this unit until November 15, 1950. Eglee again reported to active duty on February 1, 1951, serving aboard the USS ROBERT H. McCARD (DD-822) and the USS BEALE (DDE-471). Eglee was released from active duty on November 21, 1952, and he was honorably discharged in October of 1957. During the Korean Emergency he served twenty-two months of sea duty, during World War II he served twenty-six months of duty in the U.S. and seven months of sea duty totaling to fifty-five months of active duty. He earned American and Pacific engagement stars. Eglee requested honorable discharge in 1957.
This collection contains a record book of Abbott Hall, USNR Midshipmen's School with a forward by James V. Forrestal the Secretary of the Navy, which is autographed by about twenty of Eglee's classmates, two of the signatures from a good friend signed "Smitty." There are black and white photographs from 1945 at Midshipmen's school aboard the USS WILMETTE , gun and loading drills, classmates (only with one other person identified: E.K. Welles), and the Chicago skyline.
There are statements of drill attendance in New Haven, Connecticut, for the years 1946-1950, and an enlisted service record notebook (1943-1946) containing Eglee's writing of his early career in the USNR, including favorite musicians of the time, places he visited on leave, and names and addresses of friends.
Official correspondence from the Bureau of Naval Personnel includes training duty orders, data cards, Bureau of Naval Personnel qualifications questionnaires, request and acceptance of China Service Medal awarded in 1948 and documents autographed by Charles C. Coley, Commander of U.S. Navy, among others. There is also a letter from the Secretary of the Navy, Robert B. Anderson, on the subject of Eglee's rank in status in the USNR as lieutenant. There are also letters awarding Eglee the China Service Medal in 1948, a National Defense Service Medal in 1962, and Naval Reserve Medal in 1953. Also found are letters regarding Eglee's request to be placed on the retired list.
Officer Service records include four black and white photographs of Torpedo Practice aboard the USS FRED T. BERRY (DD-858) in 1945 and training courses for Gunnery Officers of Destroyers and Destroyer Escorts. These courses cover emergency ship handling, procedures for gunnery firing exercises and training bills.
Order files from 1946-1952 include Registration Certificate card, Navy Certificate card, Veterans Administration cards and letters, Armed Service Discharge receipt as well as notice of separation papers.
There are two recorded ship histories from the Office of Naval Records and History of the USS BEALE (DD 471) and the History of the USS FRED T. BERRY (DD 858), which was requested by D.R. Eglee. Along with these items are the rosters of officers for the USS BEALE (DD 471) for 1952 and the USS ROBERT H. McCARD (DD 822) 1951-1952 in which Lieutenant Eglee served as Executive Gunnery Officer, and officer memos.
Printed forms, such as certificates and letters of commendation, satisfactory service and appointments mounted on cardboard are signed by various Secretaries of the Navy, such as James Forrestal in 1945 and twice in 1946, Francis P. Matthews in 1949, and Charles S. Thomas in 1957. Acting Secretary of the Navy, Richard Jackson signed Eglee's Honorable Discharge Certificate in October of 1957.
The oversize file contains two combat chart pencil tracings of torpedo practice, which were deemed 'confidential.'
PROVENANCE NOTE: Nancy H. Eglee is the widow of Donald R. Eglee.
Gift of Nancy H. Eglee
Processed by Lillian Ricardo, April 28, 2005
Encoded by Apex Data Services
Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.
Note to Researchers: Charles H. Eglee is the father of D.R. Eglee.