Naval History and Heritage Command

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Arthur George Beale was born in West Warwick, Rhode Island, on August 3, 1917, son of Mrs. Alfred William (Emma May Summer) Beale of Bridgeport, Connecticut, and the late Mr. Beale. He attended Warren Harding High School and Junior College of Connecticut, both in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Junior College of Commerce, in New Haven, Connecticut, where he was an Associate in Science. In August 1940 he enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve; on March 6, 1941 he was appointed Midshipman; and on June 6, 1941 he was commissioned Ensign. He transferred from Naval Reserve to the U.S. Navy on February 20, 1947, and subsequently attained the rank of Commander, to date from July 1, 1951.

Completing his Naval Reserve Officers’ Training aboard the USS Prairie State [editor's note: the ship's name had recently been changed from the USS Illinois (BB-7)] in June 1941, he attended the Naval Torpedo School at Keyport, Washington, until October of that year. On November 21, 1941 he reported to the Navy Yard, Cavite, Philippine Islands, and a month later was transferred to Corregidor.

“For heroic achievement as Officer-in-Charge of Naval Vehicles and Transportation on Corregidor, during action against enemy Japanese forces, May 6, 1942…..” he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V." The citation continues: "With a number of enemy tanks moving against the American position as part of a coordinated Japanese action intended to crush the defenses of our outnumbered forces, (he) boldly proceeded under relentless hostile artillery barrages and continual strafing and bombing attacks to blockade the road traversed by the tanks in order to disrupt their steady advance…..Thereby thwarting an enemy attempt to utilize the best means of access to our position (and) contributing to the heroic defense of Corregidor….”

At the fall of Corregidor he was taken prisoner by the Japanese on May 7, 1942, and remained a Prisoner of War in Japan until after hostilities ceased on August 14, 1945.

After his repatriation in August 1945, he served from March 20, 1946 to March 10, 1947, with the Supervisor-Inspector of Naval Material, New York, N.Y. He then attended the Supply Corps School for five months, after which he served at the Naval Supply Center, Oakland, California, from September 3, 1947 until December 30, 1949. On January 15, 1950 he joined the USS Manchester (CL 83), assigned to the Far East.

As Supply Officer of the Manchester, he participated in the Inchon and Wonsan landings in September and October 1950, respectively, and from January to May 1951 that cruiser had blockade duty and took part in the siege of Wonsan.

He was awarded a Letter of Commendation with Ribbon, and Combat "V," for “Distinguishing himself by meritorious service as Supply Officer of the USS Manchester from September 10, 1950 to May 1, 1951, while engaged in combat operations in Korea…..”

On July 18, 1951 he was ordered detached to return to the United States for duty with the Military Sea Transportation Service, Washington, D.C., where he is Head of the Material Procurement and Inventory Control Branch of the Supply Division.

In addition to the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V,” the Purple Heart Medal, the Commendation Ribbon with Combat “V,” and the Army Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon with Oak Leaf Cluster, Commander Beale has the American Defense Service Medal, Base Clasp; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one star; Philippine Defense Ribbon with one star; the World War II Victory Medal; the Navy Occupation Service Medal, Asia Clasp; China Service Medal; Korean Service Medal with three stars; and the United Nations Service Medal.

He died in Westminster, California on September 7, 2011.

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