Naval History and Heritage Command

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Marvin Lawrence Beadle was born in Pulaski, Tennessee, on February 19. 1919, son of Raymond and Mae Russell Beadle. He attended Martin College, in Pulaski, and Vanderbilt University, in Nashville, Tennessee, and on September 9, 1940, enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve, making one cruise as App. Seaman on board the USS Arkansas, under the V-7 Program, in September and October 1940. He attended Midshipmen’s School on board the USS Prairie State [editor's note: the ship's name had recently been changed from the USS Illinois (BB-7)], and was commissioned Ensign on February 28, 1941, and through subsequent advancement and his transfer from the Naval Reserve to the U.S. Navy, attained the rank of Commander, to date from July 1, 1951.

From March 1941 until March 1943 he was assigned to the USS North Carolina, in which he was serving as Division Officer, 5”/38 Gun Battery, at the outbreak of World War II in December 1941. In the rank of Lieutenant he reported in March 1943 as Gunnery Instructor and Officer-in-Tactical Command for ships in training on the Staff of Commander Landing Craft, Atlantic Fleet, and in November of the same year was transferred to duty as Gunnery Officer on the Staff of Commander Sixth Amphibious Force and Commander Amphibious Training Command, Atlantic Fleet. He remained in the latter assignment until August 1945, when hostilities ceased, then served for five months as Gunnery Officer on the Staff of Commander Training Command, Atlantic Fleet, and four months as Flag Secretary to Command Amphibious Force, Atlantic.

From May 1946 until May 1947 he was a student at Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, under the five-term Holloway Plan, and the next year attended the U.S. Navy’s General Line School, Newport, Rhode Island. After graduation in May 1948, he reported to the USS Sarsfield (DD-837), in which he served as Executive Officer until June 1949, then remained at sea for two years as Operations Officer of the USS Arneb (AKA-56). He was a student at the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, during the 1951-1952 year, and in July 1952 reported as Logistics Officer on the Staff of Commander Amphibious Training Command, Atlantic Fleet. He remained in that assignment until December 1954.

Duty as Executive Officer of the USS Randall (APA-224) from December 1954 until May 1956 preceded a tour of duty in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department, Washington, D.C., as Forces Officer in the Force Section of the Strategic Plans Division. Under orders of March 9, 1959, he will report in June for duty on the Staff of the Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet.

Commander Beadle has the American Defense Service Medal; American Campaign Medal; European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four operation stars; World War II Victory Medal; and the National Defense Service Medal.

He died in Stone Mountain, Georgia on August 15, 1984.

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