November 7-8, 2018 Edged Weapons, Armor, & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/7/2018
Lot contians: (A) Black top visor cap featuring double row of bullion leaves directly embroidered on to the wool-faced visor. Made by Art Caps, inside on the crown protective lining is the personal card for "Henry Effingham Eccles/ Rear Admiral/ United States Navy". Admiral Eccles graduated from U.S. Naval Academy in 1922, attended Submarine School, commanded two submarines, served for nearly three years as engineer in the heavy cruiser USS Salt Lake City and two years in the Design Construction Division of the Bureau of Engineering in the Navy Department, Washington, D.C. In 1940, he commanded the destroyer USS John D. Edwards on the Asiatic Station. He was in command when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. He and his ship participated in the battle of Badung Strait, and the battle of the Java Sea. Wounded in action, Eccles was later awarded the Navy Cross, the Silver Star, and The Netherlands Order of the Bronze Lion. After recovering from his wounds, Eccles served in the Base Maintenance Division in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations in 1942-43. After attending the command course at the Naval War College, he was promoted to captain and assigned to be the Director of the Advance Base Section, Service Force at the Headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet in Hawaii. In this key position, for his service in this capacity, he received the Legion of Merit. Immediately after the conclusion of the war, the Navy Department assigned Eccles to the Joint Operations Review Board, commanded the battleship USS Washington and was Assistant Chief of Staff for Logistics to the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean. Eccles retired from active duty in the Navy on June 30, 1952. CONDITION: Excellent, showing minor wear only. (B) White top visor cap featuring double row of bullion leaves directly embroidered on the wool-faced visor. Accompanying the cap is a card which states that the cap was purchased from the estate of Admiral E. Pihl in Charleston So Carolina. Admiral Pihl graduated from the Naval Academy in 1920 and MIT in 1924 with a degree in aeronautical engineering, managing production of airplanes for the Navy. In 1938 he was posted as assistant naval attaché to the United States embassy in Berlin until 1941, when he returned to the U.S. His exploits in Germany later went on to inspire the character Pug Henry in Herman Wouk’s 1971 novel The Winds of War. In 1942 Pihl was promoted to Rear Admiral and served during the remainder of World War II as head of naval air production. He retired from active duty in 1953. CONDITION: Cap shows general wear from service use and lightly soiled cover. From the Ray Bentley Collection.
Item Dimensions: Each: 10 - 1/2" x 4".