World War II Naval Service
Immediately after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Ellsberg rejoined the Navy. His first assignment was to conduct salvage operations at the newly liberated port of Massawa, Eritrea. Working in beastly heat with virtually no staff and poor administrative support, Ellsberg salvaged a large floating dry dock and several of the ships that had been sunk to block the harbor.
Ellsberg returned the port to operation and the ships salvaged were added to the Allies' merchant fleets. During his work in Massawa, Ellsberg reported to the Lend Lease coordinator in Cairo, Egypt, US Army Major General Russell Maxwell. Ellsberg renamed the S.S. Liebenfels, a large German freighter, salvaged and refitted at Massawa, the 'General Russell Maxwell'. He described the salvage of the port of Massawa in his book Under the Red Sea Sun. Ellsberg was promoted to Captain by presidential order on June 19, 1942. The next year he was awarded the Legion of Merit by FDR in honor of his salvage efforts in Massawa.
In Under the Red Sea Sun, Ellsberg complained that the American contractor that was assigned to give him administrative support was very unhelpful, but he did not name that company. The company, Johnson, Drake & Piper, Inc., itself claimed credit for clearing the port in the privately printed book, "Middle East War Projects of Johnson, Drake & Piper, Inc., for the Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army, 1942-1943" (New York: Johnson, Drake & Piper, Inc., 1943). That book contains beautiful photographs and drawings showing projects around the Middle East.
From Massawa, Ellsberg went to North Africa to become Principal Salvage Officer in that theater. He worked under Admiral Andrew Cunningham, the British officer commanding naval forces in the area. Ellsberg's activities were detailed in No Banners, No Bugles.
Ellsberg, worn out from constant work, was ordered home in early 1943 to recuperate. After a time inspecting ship construction activities, Ellsberg was sent to England in time for the Normandy Invasion, where he was instrumental in preparing 89 damaged or superannuated ships for scuttling to make artificial harbors. This operation gained him great admiration in Britain where he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.).
Read more about this topic: Edward Ellsberg
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