rear admiral louis dreller, united states navy (ret) past president asne

1

Click here to load reader

Post on 27-Sep-2016

216 views

Category:

Documents


2 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: REAR ADMIRAL LOUIS DRELLER, UNITED STATES NAVY (RET) PAST PRESIDENT ASNE

REAR ADMIRAL LffUIS IIREWIER, UNITED STATES NAVY (RET)

PAST PRESIDENT ASNE Rear Admiral Louis Dreller, USN (RET) died Friday, May 8, 1970 in

Bethesda Naval Hospital. Admiral Dreller served both the Navy and ASNE above and beyond the

call of duty. His membership in ASNE dates back to July 28, 1920; only two years after he received his commission as an Ensign in the Navy. In 1951, he served as President of the Society; and when his term expired, it did not signal the end of his efforts in behalf of ASNE. He was active in the Society until his most recent illness.

The Admiral was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire on March 6, 1897. After gradauting from the University of New Hampshire in 1918 with a degree in electrical engineering, he was commissioned an Ensign in the United States Navy, for Engineering Duty only. He served in the Navy for 33 years before being retired, due to a physical disability. Throughout his active career in the service, he was in the forefront of Naval Development. His sea duties included assignments aboard the United States Ships South Carolina, Michi- gan, Preston, Tingely, Arizona, Lexington, Ranger and as Base Force and later Scouting Force Engineering Officer while aboard the Argonne and Indianapolis. He also served with distinction in the following shore billets: Assistant to the Naval Inspector of Engineering Material, Bethlehem Ship- building Corporation, Quincy; Bureau of Engineering, Design and Construc- tion Division; Commander US. Naval Shipyard, Pearl Harbor: Chief Indus- tria1 Survey Division, Office of the Naval Inspector General; and as Assistant Chief of Naval Material, Navy Department.

Admiral Dreller received the following citation along with the Legion of Merit for his work at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.

“For exceptionally meritorious conduct. . . as Design Superintendent, Planning Officer, and Production Officer, respectively, Navy Yard, Philadelphia, from August 1942 to September 1945. Acquiring a pro- gressive and thorough knowledge of all phases of Shipbuilding and Navy Yard design and production activities from each of his respon- sible assignments, has been successful in achieveing a high degree of coordination among the divisions of this vital Naval Activity . . . rendered distinctive service by expediting the construction of one air- craft carrier, two heavy cruisers, one landing ship, and numerous amphibious craft, and by completing the outfitting, repair and over- haul services for 250 vessels of the Fleet during this critical period.”

In addition to the Legion of Merit and Commendation Ribbon with com- bat distinguishing device, Admiral Dreller was the recipient of the Victory Medal, Atlantic Fleet Clasp; the American Defense Service Medal, Fleet Clasp: Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal; American Campaign Medal; and World War I1 Victory Medal, as well as the Brazilian Order of the Southern Cross.

He received a Master of Science degree from Columbia University and an Honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from the University of New Hampshire, his Alma Mater.

Admiral Dreller’s service to the Navy and to the American Society of Naval Engineers can best be described in whole as “exceptionally meritori- ous.”

He is survived by his wife, the former Edythe Maharan; two daughters, Mrs. Alex Arthur Kerr of Ormand Beach, Fla. and Mrs. Martin Sosin of Beverly Hills, California, and five grandchildren.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, May 12, 1970 in the chapel at Fort Mger, with burial in Arlington Cemetary.

The Society grieves the loss of a devoted member and friend.