November 20, 1899 - November 27, 1984
Rear
Admiral Alvin C. Thorson
was born November 20, 1899, in Hatton, North Dakota. He 
attended
the University of North Dakota where he graduated with a Bachelor
of Science Degree in Civil Engineering in June 1924. Following
his graduation he was appointed as a Deck Officer and on December
2, 1925, he was commissioned as an Ensign.
During
his career, his assignments included serving aboard the following
ships: RANGER, DISCOVERER, SURVEYOR as Junior Officer and later
in his career as Commanding Officer, he also was Commanding
Officer of the wire drag vessels PARKER, BOWEN, and STIRNI,
of the PATHFINDER and at time of his retirement in 1956, was
serving as Commanding Officer of the NOAA Ship EXPLORER. His
other assignments included Chief of Party on numerous precise
level parties, Junior Officer at the N.W. District Office in
Seattle, Washington; Chief of Party in triangulation; and on
the Director's staff at Headquarters.
Admiral
Thorson was transferred to the Department of the Army from February
24, 1942 until April 20, 1946. During this time, he served in
the following battles and campaigns: Naples Foggia, Rome Arno,
Southern France, Rhineland, and Central Europe. For his service
he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Ribbon,
European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with five Bronze
Battle Stars, American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory
Medal, and the Army of Occupation Medal with the German Clasp.
Based on
the Act of June 1942 (33 USC 864E) as amended, Admiral Thorson,
although retired in the rank as Captain, was given the honorary
rank of Rear Admiral. This Act provided:
"All
Officers of the Coast and Geodetic Survey who have been specially
commended for their performance of duty in actual combat by
the head of the executive department under whose jurisdiction
such duty was performed, shall, upon retirement, be placed on
the retired list with the rank of the next higher grade: Provided,
that the provision of this section shall not apply in the case
of any officer who has been so commended if the act or service
justifying the commendation was performed after December 31,
1946."
Admiral Thorson is survived by his wife, Hattie Mae.
NOAA CORPS BULLETIN, 12/1/1984
