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Vice-Admiral Vicente Manuel de Moura Coutinho Almeida d’Eça (1918) joined the Portuguese Navy in 1936 as a Cadet and graduated from the Naval Academy 3 years later as an Ensign. His course’s patron was Henry, the Navigator and this was the first course to attend classes at the new Naval Academy in Alfeite. He was one of the last aviators of the Portuguese Navy and throughout his career he served the Navy in many important and distinguished assigments. |
Admiral Almeida d’Eça
Personal Data
Parents: Paulo de Moura Coutinho Almeida d'Eça and Maria Clotilde Ferreira Pinto Basto Couceiro da Costa de Moura Coutinho
Birthdate: 31st July 1918;
Birthplace: Cape Verde;
Joined the
Portuguese Navy: 2nd November 1936 as a Cadet;
Married to: Maria Emília Reis Neto Almeida d'Eça (since 1943),
Offspring: Paulo Manuel Neto Almeida d'Eça; Fernando Neto Almeida d'Eça; and Maria Teresa Neto Almeida d'Eça
Reserve: 31st July 1977;
Retirement: 31st July 1988.
Promotions
Navy Cadet - 2nd November 1936;
Ensign - 1st October 1939;
Lieutenant Jr. Grade - 1st March 1940;
Lieutenant - 8th April 1948;
Lieutenant Commander - 1st March 1954;
Commander - 14th August 1961;
Captain - 9th January 1970;
Commodore - 12th September 1974;
Rear Admiral - 15th December 1975;
Vice Admiral - 2nd June 1977;
Courses
1936/1939 – Naval Academy course;
1942 – Aviator Course at the Naval Aviation School “Admiral
Gago Coutinho” with a final score of 14,26;
1946 – Upgrade Course in Radiotelegraphy and Communications;
1950 – Radar Course in England, with a score of 79%;
1957 – International Naval Staff and International Short Tactical course
in England;
1959 – Atomic War course;
1961 – College de Defense de l’OTAN (excellent score);
1972/1973 – Superior Naval War Course with a score of 16,2;
1973 – The 2nd National Defense Course;
Written Commendations
1937 – Given by the Navy’s Superintendent;
1950 – Given by the Navy’s Superintendent;
1950 – Given by the Superior Commandant of the Navy’s Air Forces;
1951 – Given by the Navy’s Superintendent;
1953 – Given by the Captain of the Ship “S. Brás”;
1953 – Given by the Electricity and Communications Department’s Director;
1955 – Given by the Admiral Chief-of-Naval Staff;
1956 – Given by the Admiral Chief-of-Naval Staff;
1957 – Given by the Chief Commandant of the Counter-Torpedo Independent
Group;
1959 – Given by the Admiral Sub-Chief-of-Naval Staff;
1967 – Given by the Guinea’s Maritime Defense Commandant;
1969 – Given by the Mozambique’s Naval Commandant;
1973 – Given by the Navy’s Material Superintendent;
1977 – Given by the General Chief-of-Staff of the Armed Forces;
1984 – Given by the General Chief-of-Staff of the Armed Forces;
1988 – Given by the General Chief-of-Staff of the Armed Forces;
Medals and Decorations
Gold Medal for Distinguished Services;
Silver Medal for Distinguished Services with Palm;
Silver Medal for Distinguished Services (two);
Military Merit Medal (2nd Class);
Degree of commander of the Military Order of Avis;
Degree of officer of the Military Order of Avis;
Gold Military Medal for Exemplar Conduct;
Armed Forces Campaigns Commemorative Medal - Guinea (1974);
Armed Forces Campaigns Commemorative Medal - Mozambique (1967/1969);
Armed Forces Campaigns Commemorative Medal - Cape Verde (1975);
Commemorative Naval Medal for the V Centenarian on the Death of Infante D.
Henrique (Silver);
Silver Medal for Courage, Abnegation and Humanity (two);
Degree of Commander of the Naval Merit Order (Brazil);
[[Degree of Officer of the U.S.
Legion of Merit;
Grand Cross of Naval Merit (Span).
Commanding Posts and Assigments
Commanding Posts:
N.T. "Ana Mafalda" (27Oct66-5Nov66);
Captain of the Portuguese Ship "Pacheco Pereira" ( 27Jul67-15Jan70);
Captain of the School Number One of the Navy (26Sept73-29May74);
Substitute Captain of Guinea’s Maritime Defence (4June74 to 28Oct74);
Other assignments:
EXO of the Portuguese Ship "Mandovi" (3Nov40 to 21Jan41);
Radiotelegraphy Instructor of the Naval Aviation School “Admiral Gago Coutinho”
from (1947-1949);
Chief of the "NATO" Communication Section of the Naval Staff (Dec53-Jan54);
Chief of the Independent Group of Counter-torpedoes (May57-Jul57);
Naval Attaché at the Portuguese Embassy in
Washington D.C. and Naval Representative at the Portuguese Embassy in
Ottawa (5Sept61
to 16Dec65);
Director of the de Electricity and Communications Division (13Feb70-26 Sept73);
High-Commissioner in Cape Verde (Jan75);
Assistant of the General Chief-of-Staff of the Armed Forces (Mar76);
Other Highlights:
In 1938 Almeida d'Eça, still a cadet, saved a woman, who was trying to commit suicide,from drowning in the Tagus River.
In 1944 the Lieutenant Jr. Grade Almeida d'Eça rescued a Seaman from drowning in Ponta Delgada/The Azores.
After the 25th of April (Carnation Revolution), and for a period of 10 years, Adm. Almeida d’Eça was in charge of a very important military mission. This high-ranking officer was the one who led the negotiation process and agreements of the military bases of Flores, Beja and Lages.
External Links
Information also available on the wikipedia