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Contact Info
Home Town Parkersburg, WV
Last Address Lakeland, FL
Date of Passing Jun 20, 1990
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
Wall/Plot Coordinates Plot: Columbarium 1
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
In 1926, at age 16, Walter Gale Ebert entered the United States Naval Academy and began a 24 year career. Ebert served primarily in submarine warfare, including commanding submarine SCAMP in the Pacific during World War II.
Rear Admiral Ebert moved to Marietta, Ohio after retirement to become administrator of the local hospital. He was there two years when he was chosen to succeed Nellie Brown as administrator of Ball Memorial Hospital of Muncie Indiana. High on the list of responsibilities for the new administrator was the ability to organize, fund and build an expansion of the hospital. During Ebert's tenure as administrator the hospital grew from 240 beds to 562, two major additions were completed, the School of Nursing was phased out and Ball State University's baccalaureate nursing course was begun, a school of practical nursing was established, the critical care unit was started and full-time emergency room physicians were added.
After 20 years as administrator, Ebert retired in 1972.
Other Comments:
Submarine war patrols: USS Scamp (SS-277) - 1st through 6th
Navy Cross
Awarded for Actions During World War II
Service: Navy
Division: U.S.S. Scamp (SS-277)
General Orders: Commander 7th Fleet: Serial 02261 (November 13, 1943 Citation: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commander Walter Gale Ebert (NSN: 0-63429), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. SCAMP (SS-277), on the FOURTH War Patrol of that submarine during the period 2 September 1943 to 1 October 1943, in enemy controlled waters of the Bismarck Sea. Commander Ebert skillfully and daringly maneuvered his ship into positions from which to strike the enemy, and repeatedly attacked, sinking two valuable Japanese ships totaling 15,100 tons, and probably sinking an anti-submarine vessel of 500 tons. Undeterred by strong and determined enemy counter measures including depth charges and gunfire, and with his ship at one time in extreme danger of sinking, he courageously and relentlessly pressed home attacks against the enemy at every opportunity, and returned his ship safely to her base. His conduct during this patrol was a continuation of his illustrious record, and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Admiral Walter Ebert, (ret.) administrator of Ball Memorial Hospital, Muncie Indiana
Date
Jul 1, 1952
Last Updated: Jun 28, 2014
Comments
Admiral Walter Ebert, (ret.) administrator of Ball Memorial Hospital, Muncie Indiana.
The desegregation of Ball Memorial Hospital occurred in the early 1950's under the administration of Walter Ebert. Prior to Ebert's leadership, hospital policy reserved only a few rooms for Black patients, and when those were filled, Blacks were treated in the hallways. Ebert changed this policy, insisting that all rooms be available for patients regardless of race. He served as the hospital's administrator from 1952 until 1972.
another clip:
Some day in the early 1950s the Ball Brothers found a retired Navy submariner to take over. I never did understand the connection of submarines to hospitals, but Rear Admiral, Retired, USN, Walter Ebert took over the management of BMH. Most doctors called him "the Admiral" behind his back. Most doctors didn't like him.
The Admiral was the hospital administrator in the days when all hospitals were changing from being the "doctors' personal workshopÂ" - where doctors did as they pleased, without any restraining rules - to professionally-run institutions with many rules mandated by Medicare, Blue Cross, the "Joint Commission," and corporate boards of local citizens.