Vicente Almeida d'Eça

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 Navy – 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

Captain – 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 Aviz

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 Merit

Grand Cross of Naval Merit (Span).

Commands

1. N.T. Ana Mafalda (27 October 1966 - 5 November 1966)
2. Captain of the Portuguese Ship Pacheco Pereira ( 27 July 1967 - 15 January 1970)
3. Captain of the School Number One of the Navy (26 September 1973 - 29 May 1974)
4. Substitute Captain of Guinea’s Maritime Defence (4 June 1974 to 28 October 1974)

Assignments

November 3, 1940 – January 21, 1941 XO 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 Ottawa

February 13, 1970 – September 1973 Director of the de Electricity and Communications Division

After the 25 April 1974 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.

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 Tagus River. In 1944 he rescued a Seaman from drowning in Ponta Delgada/The Azores.