Vicente Almeida d'Eça
Encyclopedia
Vice-Admiral Vicente Manuel de Moura Coutinho de Almeida d'Eça (born July 31, 1918) was the last Governor, then High Commissioner of Cape Verde
from 1974 to its 1975 independence from Portugal
.
d'Eça 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 assignments.
River. In 1944 he rescued a Seaman from drowning in Ponta Delgada/The Azores.
Gold Medal for Distinguished Services
Cape Verde
The Republic of Cape Verde is an island country, spanning an archipelago of 10 islands located in the central Atlantic Ocean, 570 kilometres off the coast of Western Africa...
from 1974 to its 1975 independence from Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
.
d'Eça joined the Portuguese Navy
Portuguese Navy
The Portuguese Navy is the naval branch of the Portuguese Armed Forces which, in cooperation and integrated with the other branches of the Portuguese military, is charged with the military defence of Portugal....
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 assignments.
Personal data
- Parents – Paulo de Moura Coutinho de Almeida d'Eça and Maria Clotilde Ferreira Pinto Basto Couceiro da Costa de Moura Coutinho
- Birthdate – July 31, 1918
- Birthplace – Cape Verde
- Joined the Portuguese NavyPortuguese NavyThe Portuguese Navy is the naval branch of the Portuguese Armed Forces which, in cooperation and integrated with the other branches of the Portuguese military, is charged with the military defence of Portugal....
– November 2, 1936 as a Cadet - Marriage – 1943 to Maria Emília dos Reis Neto de Almeida d'Eça
- Children – Paulo Manuel Neto de Almeida d'Eça; Fernando Neto de Almeida d'Eça; and Maria Teresa Neto de Almeida d'Eça
- Reserve – July 31, 1977
- Retirement – July 31, 1988
Service record
- Navy Cadet – November 2, 1936
- Ensign – October 1, 1939
- Lieutenant Jr. Grade – March 1, 1940
- Lieutenant – April 8, 1948
- Lieutenant Commander – March 1, 1954
- Commander – August 14, 1961
- CaptainCaptain (naval)Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
– January 9, 1970 - Commodore – September 12, 1974
- Rear Admiral – December 15, 1975
- Vice Admiral – June 2, 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 2 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 AvizOrder of AvizThe Military Order of Aviz , previously to 1910 Royal Military Order of Aviz , previously to 1789 Order of Saint Benedict of Aviz , previously Knights of St. Benedict of Aviz or Friars of Santa Maria of Évora, is a Portuguese Order of Chivalry...
- Degree of officer of the Military Order of Aviz
- 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 MeritLegion of MeritThe Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
- Grand Cross of Naval Merit (Span).
Commands
- N.T. Ana Mafalda (27 October 1966 - 5 November 1966)
- Captain of the Portuguese Ship Pacheco Pereira ( 27 July 1967 - 15 January 1970)
- Captain of the School Number One of the Navy (26 September 1973 - 29 May 1974)
- Substitute Captain of Guinea’s Maritime Defence (4 June 1974 to 28 October 1974)
Assignments
- November 3, 1940 – January 21, 1941 XOExecutive officerAn executive officer is generally a person responsible for running an organization, although the exact nature of the role varies depending on the organization.-Administrative law:...
of the Portuguese Ship Mandovi - 1947–1949 Radiotelegraphy Instructor of the Naval Aviation School “Admiral Gago Coutinho” from
- December 1953 – January 1954 Chief of the NATO Communication Section of the Naval Staff
- May 1957 – July 1957 Chief of the Independent Group of Counter-torpedoes
- September 5, 1961 – December 16, 1965 Naval Attaché at the Portuguese Embassy in Washington D.C. and Naval Representative at the Portuguese Embassy in OttawaOttawaOttawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
- February 13, 1970 – September 1973 Director of the de Electricity and Communications Division
- After the 25 April 1974 Carnation RevolutionCarnation RevolutionThe Carnation Revolution , also referred to as the 25 de Abril , was a military coup started on 25 April 1974, in Lisbon, Portugal, coupled with an unanticipated and extensive campaign of civil resistance...
, 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. - January 1975 High-Commissioner in Cape Verde
- March 1976 Assistant of the General Chief-of-Staff of the Armed Forces
Rescues
At least twice in his career Almeida d'Eça saved drowning victims. In 1938 while still a cadet he saved a woman who was trying to commit suicide in the TagusTagus
The Tagus is the longest river on the Iberian Peninsula. It is long, in Spain, along the border between Portugal and Spain and in Portugal, where it empties into the Atlantic Ocean at Lisbon. It drains an area of . The Tagus is highly utilized for most of its course...
River. In 1944 he rescued a Seaman from drowning in Ponta Delgada/The Azores.
External links
- Portuguese Naval Aviation
- This Biography was part of a project by the Level 4 Students about Adm. Almeida d'Eça
Gold Medal for Distinguished Services
- Silver Medal for Distinguished Services with Palm
- Silver Medal for Distinguished Services (two)
- Gold Military Medal for Exemplar Conduct
- Silver Medal for Courage, Abnegation and Humanity (two)