▁of ▁the ▁heavy ▁cru iser ▁ ▁from ▁ 1 9 4 0 ▁to ▁ 1 9 4 1 . ▁From ▁ 1 9 4 1 ▁to ▁ 1 9 4 3 ▁he ▁was ▁an ▁a ide ▁to ▁Secretary ▁of ▁the ▁Navy ▁William ▁Franklin ▁Kno x ▁before ▁taking ▁command ▁of ▁the ▁light ▁cru iser ▁ ▁from ▁ 1 9 4 3 ▁to ▁ 1 9 4 4 . ▁Beat ty ▁served ▁as ▁the ▁Commander ▁of ▁U . S . ▁Forces ▁in ▁the ▁Ar uba - C ura ça o ▁area ▁during ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁from ▁ 1 9 4 4 ▁to ▁ 1 9 4 5 . ▁ ▁Beat ty ▁retired ▁from ▁the ▁Navy ▁in ▁June ▁ 1 9 5 1 . ▁Dec or ations ▁he ▁earned ▁include ▁the ▁Navy ▁Cross , ▁the ▁Bron ze ▁Star ▁Medal , ▁and ▁he ▁was ▁twice ▁awarded ▁the ▁Leg ion ▁of ▁Mer it . ▁ ▁References ▁ ▁Category : 1 8 9 4 ▁birth s ▁Category : 1 9 7 6 ▁death s ▁Category : Un ited ▁States ▁Navy ▁vice ▁adm ir als ▁Category : Un ited ▁States ▁Naval ▁Academy ▁al umn i ▁Category : American ▁military ▁personnel ▁of ▁World ▁War ▁I ▁Category : American ▁naval ▁personnel ▁of ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁Category : Un ited ▁States ▁Navy ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁adm ir als ▁Category : Re cip ients ▁of ▁the ▁Navy ▁Cross ▁( Un ited ▁States ) ▁Category : Re cip ients ▁of ▁the ▁Leg ion ▁of ▁Mer it ▁Category : B ur ial s ▁at ▁Ar ling