Gordon Beecher

Gordon Beecher
Birth name William Gordon Beecher Jr.
Born (1904-01-19)January 19, 1904
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Died (1973-12-07)December 7, 1973
Alexandria, Virginia, U.S.
Place of Burial Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance  United States of America
Service/branch  United States Navy
Years of service 1921–1955
Rank Vice Admiral
Commands held Director, USNA Musical Clubs, 1933-1935
Commanding officer USS Pruitt (DM-22), then a minesweeper, 31 May 1940 through 2 December 1941
Commander of the Middle East Force in 1954
Chief of Naval Information in 1954-1955
Battles/wars World War II
Pearl Harbor
Iwo Jima
Okinawa
Awards Legion of Merit

William Gordon Beecher, Jr. (January 19, 1904, Baltimore, Maryland – December 7, 1973) was an American composer, author and vice admiral. Many of his musical arrangements were done in cooperation with Johnny Noble.

Beecher was educated at the United States Naval Academy and at the National War College. He served 34 years in the United States Navy, retiring as a vice admiral in 1955. In World War II, Beecher commanded a destroyer squadron, and fought at Pearl Harbor, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. He received the Legion of Merit.

Between 1933 and 1935, Beecher directed the USNA Musical Clubs and joined ASCAP in 1944. Known compositions, many of which he published under the pseudonym "Gordon Beecher", are "A Song of Old Hawaii", "Sing an American Song", "Counting On You", "All Pau Now", "Nimitz, Halsey and Me", "Just a Happy Kama'aina" and "The Ramparts We Watch".

Beecher died in 1973 and is buried at the Arlington National Cemetery.

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