Van Vechten, Frederick

Description

Frederick Van Vechten was born May 4, 1916, to Frederick and Alma Newell van Vechten, at Little Falls, N.Y. He graduated from the Hotchkiss School in 1934. In Rye his family lived at 28 Walnut St. and were members of the Presbyterian Church.

Frederick received a bachelor’s degree with honors from Yale University in 1938 and Yale Law School L.L.B. degree in 1941. That year, he joined the firm Webster & Sheffield in New York City.

Frederick served as an officer in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He served in the U.S. Naval Reserve and participated in the D- Day landing at Normandy on June 6, 1944. From 1942 until 1943, he served with naval intelligence, and then as commanding officer of the U.S.S. LCI 542, from 1944-45.

The USS LCI-542 (Landing Craft, Infantry) was a WWII amphibious vessel involved in the Normandy invasion (D-Day) in June 1944, landing troops directly onto Omaha Beach, a critical but costly operation. As part of the larger Landing Craft Infantry (LCI) fleet, its role was to deliver infantry, and its service earned it one battle star, read specific detailed records for this exact vessel the LST-542, highlighting the massive scale of the D-Day landings and the bravery of the crew.
(READ COMPLETE ACCOUNT OF The USS LCI-542 ON EXTENDED INFO TAB ABOVE)

From: (Lieut. Frederick Van Vechten) Commanding Officer USS LCI(L) 542 (OMAHA BEACH)

“Although twelve hours after H-hour, the beachhead did not appear well organized. There was only one visible beach marking; no shore parties were in evidence where this ship landed. There was little traffic control off the beach, and no channels were noticeable. LCI(L)s, LCTs, and other craft maneuvered haphazardly, frequently cutting across lines of approach. This ship beached upon receiving orders from the Senior Officer present in USS LCI(L) 420. Both convoy and far-shore radio frequencies were jammed continuously. No enemy air or naval craft were observed during the action.”

Van Vechten Praises Service
Lieut. Frederick Van Vechten spoke briefly and praised the Red Cross with which he came in contact many times during his eleven months overseas as commanding officer of an LCI infantry landing craft . We sailed on March 1 of last year to land men on D-Day, June 6, and the wait was long and telling. England is a nice country and we enjoyed it, but it was not home. This is where the Red Cross was used to capacity. Even when we returned home, not ten feet from the dock was a Red Cross welcoming stand. The Red Cross means a lot to me, he said.

PAGE TWO THE RYE CHRONICLE Friday, March 2, 1945

Frederick wrote a short book on LCI 542. History of U.S.S. LCI 542, 1943-1945. Frederick R. Van Vechten, Jr., USNR, (inactive). [New York: C.P. Young Co.] [1946?]. 36 pp., gray paper cover with black printing, 23.5 x 15.6 cm, photos, roster. NDL.

After the war, Frederick rejoined the law firm of Webster & Sheffield in New York City, where he made partner in 1961. He was a member of the New York, U.S., and Southern District and U.S.
Second Circuit Court bars. He specialized in estates and trusts and served on numerous committees of the New York City Bar Association.

Frederick was active in Rye community affairs. He was a director, president from 1966 to 1969 of the Rye YMCA and he also served as trustee. From 1973 to 1976 he served as president and trustee of the Rye Historical Society; director of the Rye Community Concert Association; and trustee of the Rye Presbyterian Church.

In 1976, Frederick was awarded the Gold Man Recognition of the Rye YMCA for distinguished services rendered over three decades. He was also a member of the Apawamis Club of Rye and Manhattan and the St.
Nicholas Society and the Yale Club, both of New York City.

Frederick Rust Van Vechten Jr., a partner in the Manhattan law firm of Webster & Sheffield who specialized in trusts and estates, died at St. Luke’s Hospital on January 7,1991. He was 74 years old and lived in Rye, N.Y.

“He died of a heart attack after cardiac surgery”, said a colleague, John V. Lindsay, the former New York City Mayor.

At the time of his death, he was survived by two sisters, Margaret L. van Vechten of Rye, and Katharine van Vechten Myers of Norwich, Vt.; and two nieces, Anne M. Evans of Rochester, N.Y., and Sara M.
Gormley of Norwich, Vt.; and one nephew, Duncan M. Myers of Topanga, Calif.