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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)
Period:
After War Period (1945-now)
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