Ellis Mark Zacharias – Rear Admiral, United States Navy

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Source: Headlines in The Fresno Bee, Fresno, California, Thursday June 29th, 1961

From West Springfield, New Hampshire

Retired Rear Admiral Ellis M. Zacharias, 71, deputy chief of Naval Intelligence in World War II and later a television narrator, died last night in his home here.

Zacharias had never fully recovered from a recent heart seizure. An earlier attack forced his retirement from the Navy in 1946 after 34 years of service. He then starred on a television show entitled “Secret Missions” which concerned military intelligence work.

Zacharias conducted radio psychological warfare against the Japanese high command in World War II.

He commanded a heavy cruiser which was part of the force that escorted Lieutenant General James H. Doolittle on his bombing raid on the Japanese homeland.

Born in Jacksonville, Florida, January 1, 1890, Zacharias was a graduate from the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, in 1912. In WWI, he served as a line officer aboard the USS Pittsburgh.

Military services are scheduled for Monday in Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, D.C.

February 17th, 2001

Corrections & additions made by Ellis M. Zacharias, Jr.

The name of the television series was “Behind Closed Doors”, not “Secret
Missions.” There was a radio series “Secret Missions” in 1948. Both titles were taken from Ellis, Sr.’s two best selling books of the same name.

Other information added is that Ellis M. Zacharias, Sr. was buried in Arlington Cemetery on July 3, 1961, where his wife was later buried with him in 1992.

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emzacharias-gravesite-photo-august-2006

ZACHARIAS, ELLIS MARK

  • R/ADM USN
  • VETERAN SERVICE DATES: Unknown
  • DATE OF BIRTH: 01/01/1890
  • DATE OF DEATH: 06/27/1961
  • DATE OF INTERMENT: 07/03/1961
  • BURIED AT: SECTION 2  SITE 1016 LB
  • ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

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