Edward Walter Eberle (1864 - 1929)

Born 17 Aug 1864 in Denton, Denton, Texas, United States

Husband of Tazie (Harrison) Eberle — married 1889 in California, United States

Died 6 Jul 1929 at age 64 in Washington, District of Columbia, United States

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Biography

Edward Eberle is Notable.

Edward Walter Eberle was born on August 17, 1864 in Denton, Denton County, Texas. His father was a Swiss immigrant named Joseph Eberle, and his mother was a girl from Georgia named Mary Stemler.^[1][2] About a year after his birth, his family moved to Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas. His father operated a store, and the family lived in a house behind the store on Sixth Street and Garrison Avenue.^[3][2]

When he was seventeen years old, he was nominated to the U. S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. He entered the United States Naval Academy on September 28, 1881 and graduated on June 5, 1885.^[2] After graduation, he served consecutive duty on board the USS Mohican and the USS Shenandoah assigned to enforce and maintain treaty obligations during the insurrection on the Isthmus of Panama. In October 1886, he served on the Ranger and in 1887, was assigned special duty at the Naval Academy.^[2][4] From 1887 to 1891, he served on U.S. Fish Commission Steamer Albatross. He helped develop the Tanner Sounding Device, used in charting fishing waters off Cape Horn in Africa and in the northern Pacific. This device was part of the evolution of technology used for measuring water depth.^[2][4]

He married Tazie Harrison, a relative of President William Henry Harrison, in 1889. Together they had one son, Edward Randolph Eberle, who also served in the navy.^[2]

In 1891, he received instruction on ordinances at the Navy Yard in Washington, DC. After which he joined the USS Lancaster as Watch and Division Officer. In 1893, he transferred to the USS Marion to serve until 1894, when he reported for duty at the Naval Academy. In 1896, he was ordered to the battleship Oregon, at the builder's yards on the Pacific Coast, and remained there until she was commissioned on July 15, that same year. He then joined her as the Turret Officer.^[4] The ship, third of its kind, was part of a new fleet of ocean-going battleships known as the "Great White Fleet." After her commission, she was assigned to Bremerton, Washington Naval Base until the Spanish American War. She was then stationed off the coast of Florida. To reach her destination, she had to sail 14,700 miles around South America. At full steam, it took her sixty-seven days to make the journey. While the ship was at Guantanamo Bay, he discovered from the top mast, Spanish soldiers at Caimanera, he plotted a range on the navigational chart and had his crew use the gun turrets to fire on the enemy. His measures were right on target, and he broke up the Spanish before they could assault the Marines on McCalla Hill.^[4]

In 1899, he joined the staff of Commander in Chief, Asiatic Fleet as Flag Lieutenant and Acting Chief of Staff. So he served during the Philippine revolution and the settlement of the insurrection. He was then sent to the War College and afterwards commanded the USS Wheeling a cruiser.^[4]

In 1911, the Atlantic Torpedo Fleet (destroyers) were formed, and Eberle, now a captain. During this command, he devised the smoke-screen tactic, which later became part of destroyer tactics. During his command, he was the first to use airplanes to detect submerged submarines. He formed mine-laying and mine sweeping tactics used by the navy.^[4] In 1914, he was in command of the battleship USS Washington, and during his command helped establish a blockade of Santo Domingo harbor in the Dominican Republic to suppress a revolution.^[4]

In 1915, President Woodrow Wilson appointed him superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy. The academy reputation had been damaged after some scandals. He restored the school's reputation, shortened the training period for midshipmen to supply much-needed officers for the war effort. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal and in 1919 promoted to rear admiral.^[4]

In 1921, he was designated commander in chief of the Pacific Fleet and in 1923 chief of Naval Operations. In 1928, he reached mandatory retirement age and ended his naval career. He died on July 6, 1929 at the Naval Hospital in Washington, DC. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ Patterson, Michael Robert, Arlington National Cemetery, 31 Mar 2023. "Edward Walter Eberle - Admiral, United States Navy." Accessed 4 Apr 2023.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5} Wikipedia Contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encycylopedia, last edited on 20 Dec 2022. "Edward Walter Eberle." Accessed 4 Apr 2023.
3. ↑ Christ, Mark K., Little Rock, Arkansas. Encyclopedia of Arkansas, last updated on 19 Oct 2019. "Edward Walter Eberle (1864–1929)." Accessed 4 Apr 2023.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8} The Navy Department Library, (n.d.). "Modern Biographical Files in the Navy Department Library Modern Bios E Eberle, Edward Walter." Accessed 4 Apr 2023.