BIOGRAPHIES - Class of 1944

CAPT Edward Louis ARMSTRONG USN (Ret)

CAPT Edward Louis ARMSTRONG USN (Ret)
Bachelor of Engineering - Mechanical Engineering 1951
Warfare Specialty Submarine Warfare -Left for war - Feb 1944
Commissioned Ensign USN 27 Feb 1944 (J)
Further Education Unknown
Address Available
Spouse Unknown
Email: ed4usa2@cox.net

Captain Armstrong was born on the old G & L oil lease in Placentia, a third generation Orange Countyian and descendant of the pioneer Cook Family of El Toro. He graduated from Orange Union High School in 1941 at 17. He went on to a prep school for the Naval Academy but the appointment was given away politically. Following this disappointment, he went to the University of Southern California in January 1942 and enrolled in the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps.

Captain Armstrong enlisted in the Navy in June 1942 and went on active duty as a Midshipman in July 1943.

While at USC, Ed was a Trojan Knight; twice President of his Sigma Nu Fraternity chapter (1943 & 1947); Interfraternity Council; and Sophomore Class Council (1943).

He was commissioned as an Ensign, USNR in February 1944 at the age of 20. He had three tours of active duty with the fleet in submarines, a submarine tender and a destroyer during World War 2, the Korean War and in between. He was active in the Naval Reserve and had command of a Naval Reserve Submarine Division and a NR Submarine Battalion consisting of two Submarine Divisions; served on Naval Air Reserve Staffs as Submarine Liaison Officer at NAS Los Alamitos, NAS New Orleans, NAS Pensacola and served as an instructor for Officers Training School in Oceanography and Counterinsurgency. Authored the Naval Reserve Training Manual for nuclear powered submarines. He was promoted to the rank of Captain at the age of 41 and retired with 33 years of service.

Captain Armstrong graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Mechanical Engineering, is a California Professional Engineer and holds a patent in high energy rate metal forming. Have published articles on high energy rate forming and compiled a book on undersea construction, habitation and vehicles. Among other things, he was a Senior Research Engineer at Rocketdyne, a Project Manager at Autonetics, a Sea Trial Director at Ingalls Shipbuilding and Supervisor of Construction, Installation and Repair at IMODCO, a company which built and installed single point tanker mooring terminals world wide.

Captain Armstrong is a Life Member of the U. S. Submarine Veterans of World War 2; Life Member U.S. Submarine Veterans, Inc., including membership in the exclusive Holland Club requiring 50 years with the designation qualified in submarines; Naval Submarine League; Navy League; Fleet Reserve Association; The Retired Officer Association; Naval Reserve Association; USC NROTC Alumni League; American Legion (Laguna Beach Post 222) and a Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (Laguna Beach Post 5868).

Captain Armstrong has called Laguna Beach home since 1963 and is a past president of The Laguna Beach Taxpayers Association.

In 2002, Captain Armstrong was honored as Patriot of the Year for the Laguna Beach Patriots Day Parade. In August of 2003, he was appointed Deputy Director of the Southwest Region of the U.S. Submarine Veterams of World War II and in October was installed as President of the Los Angeles Area Chapter following three years as Recording Secretary.

From the website of [The 2002 Laguna Beach Parade]
Honored Patriot of the Year - CAPTAIN EDWARD L. ARMSTRONG USN(RET)

The Patriot of the Year award is given to a person who has served the nation gallantly or meritoriously in time of war or national emergency. Captain Edward L. Armstrong, a third generation Orange Countian, was born in Placentia in 1923. His grandfather, Andrew Jackson Cook, homesteaded a ranch at what is now Cook’s Corner near El Toro. After graduating from Orange Union High School in 1941, he attended the University of Southern California and enrolled in the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the Navy in June of 1942 and went on active duty as a midshipman the next year. He was commissioned as an ensign in February 1944 at the age of 20 and saw duty in the Pacific Theater of Operations. His service included three fleet tours in submarines, a submarine tender, and a destroyer during World War II and the Korean War. He holds the coveted submariner’s gold dolphin badge awarded to officers who qualify in all aspects of submarine operations. He later commanded Submarine Division 11-6 in the naval reserve and Submarine Battalion 11-1 consisting of two submarine divisions. His staff tours included liaison duty at the naval air stations located at Los Alamitos, New Orleans, and Pensacola in Florida. He was also an instructor in Oceanography and Counterinsurgency at the Officers Training School at Naval Station Long Beach. He was promoted to the rank of captain at the age of only 41 and retired with 33 years of service.

Between the wars, he was able to return to the University of Southern California and win his degree in Mechanical Engineering. In civilian life he became a registered California Profession Engineer and holds a patent in high energy rate metal forming. His professional achievements included writing a book on undersea construction, habitation, and vehicles. He worked as a Senior Research Engineer with Rocketdyne Corporation, a project manager for Autonetics, and a sea trial director for Ingalls Shipbuilding. As Supervisor of Construction, Installation and Repair for IMODCO, he installed single point tanker mooring terminals throughout the world including many in west Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and southeast Asia.

Captain Armstrong is active in numerous veterans’ organizations including the U.S. Submarine Veterans of World War II, the Fleet Reserve Association, the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Navy League. He moved to Laguna Beach in 1964, and he and his wife Marilyn have long been involved in local civic affairs. He is immediate past resident of the Laguna Beach Taxpayers Association.

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