Alan Boyd Banister
Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy

Alan Boyd Banister was born on 4 February 1905 in the Indian Territories.

He was a 1928 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and spent most of his thirty-year career in the submarine services.

He was twice awarded the Navy Cross for "extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the USS Sawfish" in enemy-controlled waters. During a six-month period in 1944, his "planned attacks against enemy shipping resulted in sinking ships totally more than 15,000 tons and damaging shipping of more than 8,000 tons," and in sinking an enemy submarine, an "important enemy combatant unit."

His "intelligent and skillful evasive tactics," "experience and sound judgment," enabled him to bring his ship safely back to port after each encounter.

He retired from the Navy in 1958 while serving as Commandant of the Portsmouth New Hampshire Navy Yard.

Medals and Awards

Navy Cross (2 Awards)

Navy Commendation Medal (2 Awards)

Badges

Submarine Warfare Officer Badge

In Retirement

He resided in York, ME, until his death.

Death and Burial

Rear Admiral Alan Boyd Banister died on 1 November 1963. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.