W. W. Behrens Jr.
| William Wohlsen Behrens Jr. | |
|---|---|
William Wohlsen Behrens Jr.
|
|
| Born |
September 14, 1922 Newport, Rhode Island |
| Died | January 21, 1986 (aged 63) |
| Allegiance |
 United States
|
| Service/branch | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1943–1973 |
| Rank | Vice Admiral |
| Commands held |
USS Balao (SS-285) USS Harder (SS-568) USS Skipjack (SSN-585) USS Ethan Allen (SSBN-608) |
| Battles/wars |
World War II Vietnam War |
| Awards |
Navy Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Bronze Star Medal (2) Legion of Merit (5) Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation Meritorious Unit Citation (Vietnam) Gallantry Cross (Vietnam) |
Vice Admiral William Wohlsen Behrens Jr. (September 14, 1922 – January 21, 1986) was an American naval officer and oceanographer who was instrumental in establishing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Behrens was born at Newport, Rhode Island, the son of Rear Admiral (then Lieutenant) William W. Behrens Sr. and Nellie Vasey Behrens. He graduated from Friends Select Academy in Philadelphia, from Rutherford Preparatory School in Long Beach, California and then from the United States Naval Academy in the class of 1944 (graduated early in June 1943), where he attended via a Presidential appointment.
Behrens graduated from the Submarine School, New London, Connecticut, in 1943, and was assigned to the Sand Lance (SS-381) as Gunnery Officer, for two war patrols, and was awarded Presidential Unit Citation. He was then assigned to the Picuda (SS-382), as a communications and engineer officer, on four war patrols, and was awarded Navy Unit Citation, Silver Star, Bronze Star with "V", with personal citations for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity". He was credited with conceiving electronic slip rings allowing for continuous, non-reversing trainability of submarine sonar; as well as authoring the first Short form code for use in submarine "wolfpack" communications.
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