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Those Who Died That Others Might Be Free

 

Gus Bebas

 

Date and Place of Birth: February 24, 1914 Chicago, Illinois
Date and Place of Death: July 19, 1942 Pacific Ocean, off Barber's Point, Hawaiian Islands
Baseball Experience: College
Position: Pitcher
Rank: Ensign
Military Unit: US Navy
Area Served: Pacific Theater of Operations

 

It is indeed a great honor to the Bebas family to contribute in blood towards the noble cause of liberty. And though we all express a deep sorrow on the loss of a brave young Greek-American, yet the honor bestowed upon the Bebas family will be displayed in the annals of history in honor of young Bebas who fought for the highest ideals of humanity and civilization.

The Greek Star May 21, 1943

 

Constantine G "Gus" Bebas was born in Chicago, Illinois on February 24, 1914. One of six children growing up in Wilmette, 16 miles north of downtown Chicago, his parents were Greek immigrants fiercely proud of their country of birth and equally proud of their new home.

 

After graduating from New Tier High School in nearby Winnetka, Bebas entered Northwestern University in September 1934. He was an excellent pitcher and hurled for the varsity team from 1937 to 1939.

 

While at Northwestern, Bebas served in the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps as a platoon leader. He received his commission as an ensign in May 1938.

 

Bebas graduated from Northwestern in 1939 with a BS degree in commerce and had a tryout with the Chicago White Sox before enlisting in the Navy on January 23, 1940. He began flight training at Naval Reserve Aviation Base Glenview in February and was at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola in 1941 where he pitched for the baseball team.

 

Bebas transferred to NAS Miami in April 1941 and was promoted to ensign the following month. On September 26, Bebas was assigned to the Advanced Carrier Training Group, Atlantic Fleet and after a brief visit home in October, reported to Bombing Squadron (VB) 8, on December 23, 1941.

 

Ensign Bebas and his squadron were serving on board the USS Hornet (CV-8) when she sailed for the Pacific in March 1942, re-equipped with the Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless dive bomber.

 

 

During the first day of the Battle of Midway, June 4, 1942, Bebas flew in the first strike but his squadron did not locate the Japanese. The following day he attacked the Japanese destroyer Tanikaze and on June 6 he took part in strikes flown against the heavy cruisers Mogami and Mikunia. Bebas scored a damaging near miss on Mogami in the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire. For this action he was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. His citation read in part: "For heroism and extraordinary achievement in ... action against the enemy in the Battle of Midway, June 6, 1942. With utter disregard for his own personal safety, Ensign Bebas participated in persistent bombing and strafing in the face of tremendous anti-aircraft fire. His courageous conduct and stern devotion to the fulfillment of a vastly important mission contributed materially to the victory achieved by our forces."

 

 

The Hornet returned to Pearl Harbor following the Battle of Midway. While on a routine flight off Oahu on the morning of July 19, 1942, Ensign Bebas put his Dauntless into a dive to attack a target boat maneuvering off Barber's Point. He released his practice bomb at 2,000 feet but did not recover from the dive and crashed into the ocean, killing himself and crewmate, Ensign William Stevens.

 

On May 15, 1943, his mother, Angeline, and his sister, Anne, traveled to Boston to witness the launch of a Navy destroyer escort vessel named in Gus Bebas' honor.

 

The following month, on June 27, a memorial service was held for Bebas at St Andrew's Greek Orthodox Church in Chicago. "He was a student of whom we all felt proud," eulogized Dr Franklin B Snyder, president of Northwestern University. "He was loved and admired by the students and his friends, one we knew would have a distinguished record. We regret his death but we take a pride in his heroism and his accomplishments. On behalf of the university, I salute him!"

 

 

The USS Bebas was based in the Pacific until the cease of hostilities, performing patrol and escort duties and receiving three battle stars.

 

Thanks to Kevin B. Leonard, University Archives at the Northwestern University Library for help with much of the material used in this biography.

 

Added September 29, 2006.

 

Copyright © 2007 Gary Bedingfield (Baseball in Wartime). All Rights Reserved.