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Fairbanks, Douglas Elton (Jr.)

    Date of birth:
    December 9th, 1909 (New York City/New York, United States)
    Date of death:
    May 7th, 2000 (New York City/New York, United States)
    Buried on:
    Hollywood Forever Cemetery
    Nationality:
    American (1776 - present, Republic)

    Biography

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    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Awarded on:
    September 3rd, 1941
    Oficial del Ordem Nacional do Cruzeiro do Sul
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Lieutenant Commander
    Awarded on:
    1944
    Awarded for:
    Operation Dragoon
    Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Lieutenant Commander
    Awarded on:
    March 1945
    Awarded for:
    Operation Dragoon
    "For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as special operations planning officer on the staff of a major naval task force commander and as commander of a naval task force unit during the invasion of Southern France in 1944. Lieutenant Commander Fairbanks worked tirelessly in the development and coordination of plans for the execution of special operations. As a task unit commander he courageously led ships of his unit into action and, aggressively directing the combat operations with expert seamanship against heavy odds, greatly aided in the ultimate sinking of two vessels."

    Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 336
    -
    With Bronze "V" device
    Legion of Merit - US Military
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Lieutenant Commander
    Awarded on:
    1946
    Awarded for:
    Operation Dragoon
    Chevalier de l' Ordre National de la Legion d'Honneur
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Lieutenant Commander
    Awarded on:
    1946
    Awarded for:
    Operation Dragoon

    With palm
    Croix de Guerre (1939-1945)
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Awarded on:
    December 29th, 1949

    Associate
    Officer to the Venerable Order of Saint John (OStJ)
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Awarded on:
    1949
    For "furthering Anglo-American amity."
    -
    Partly for his work as a U.S. Navy officer for the British Admiralty and partly for his postwar work raising money for the Cooperative for American Remittances to Europe (CARE).

    Honorary knighthood
    Knight Bachelor
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Awarded on:
    1949
    Knights/Dames Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (K/DBE)
    Awarded on:
    June 23rd, 1950

    Associate
    Knight/Dame to the Venerable Order of Saint John (KStJ/DStJ)
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Awarded for:
    Operation Avalanche
    For valor displayed while serving on PT boats during the Allied invasion at Salerno in 1943.
    Silver Star Medal (SSM)
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Lieutenant Commander
    Awarded for:
    Operation Avalanche
    Croce al Merito di Guerra

    Sources

    Photos