Commander Ellsberg, Hero of S-51, Not to Be Promoted to Rank of Rear Admiral

(Jewish Daily Bulletin)

Lieut. Commander Edward Ellsberg will not be promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral in recognition of his rescue work of the submarine S-51, as proposed in a resolution introduced into Congress by Congressman Emanuel Celler of New York. Instead, it was learned, the Naval Affairs Committee of the House intends to recommend the promotion of Ellsberg to the rank of Captain of the reserve. Congressman Celler’s resolution also asked the promotion of Lieutenant Henry Hartley and Boatswain Richard E. Hawes for their services in connection with the salvaging of the S-51.

Rear Admiral R. H. Leigh, Chief of the Navy Bureau of Navigation, appearing before the Naval Affairs Committee on Friday, opposed Congressman Celler’s resolution in behalf of the Navy Department. Promotion by special authorization of Congress would injure the department’s efforts to maintain interest and zeal in the officers of the Naval Reserve, he argued.

Ellsberg had declared that he prefers to continue with the Naval Reserve and would not re-enter the navy with an advanced rank. Rear Admiral Plunkett, former commandant of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, endorsed Congressman Celler’s resolution.

Sergeant Maxwell Weinstein of Brooklyn was awarded the Soldiers Medal by President Coolidge for his heroism in rescuing a woman from a burning building at Tientsin, China, on February 1.