George Henry Bahm – Rear Admiral, United States Navy

From a contemporary press report:

George Henry Bahm of West Yarmouth, a retired Navy rear admiral, died Friday (April 1999) at Mayflower Nursing Home in West Yarmouth, Massachusetts. He was 98.

Born in Philadelphia, he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1921.

Admiral Bahm served the country in peace and war for 33 years. He distinguished himself on two tours of sea duty in the Pacific during World War II. He was commanding officer of the USS Dixie, a destroyer tender, and the cruiser USS San Juan, the first ship to reach Japan after the surrender on a mission to liberate American and Allied prisoners of war.

He was decorated with the Legion of Merit with gold star for his command of that operation. He also served in the war plans section of the Combined Chiefs of Staff in Washington and participated in the Quebec and Cairo conferences of the Big Three.

Admiral Bahm retired from the Navy in 1950 and embarked on a second career in labor relations with Stop&Shop supermarkets.

Upon his retirement, he and his wife settled in West Yarmouth.

He played golf at Cummaquid Golf Club until the age of 90. He was also a skilled woodworker and restored antique furniture. He was a lifelong student of naval history and at 32 wrote a thesis on British naval strategy in World War I.

He was a life member of Frankford Lodge 292, F&AM in Philadelphia.

Husband of the late Bee, Admiral Bahm is survived by a son, George Christopher of Boca Raton, Fla.; a brother, Walter of Lehigh Acres, Fla.; friends Dianne Elliot of West Yarmouth and Miriam McCoubrey of Melrose; two cousins and several nieces and nephews.

At his request, there were no funeral services. A memorial service will be held on the Cape at a later date. Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery.

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