Capt. Eckler, New Acadia Skipper, Dies
Capt. Joseph F. Eckler, the newly appointed captain of the destroyer tender Acadia, was found dead Monday, apparently of natural causes, Navy officials said. He was 45.
Eckler’s body was discovered by the ship’s medical officer, Cmdr. Paul Corbett, at about 10 a.m., Master Chief Petty Officer Mike McLellan said. Corbett had gone to the home at North Island Naval Air Station where Eckler had been house-sitting after Eckler failed to report for duty.
For the record:
12:00 a.m. June 12, 1991 For the Record
Los Angeles Times Wednesday June 12, 1991 San Diego County Edition Metro Part B Page 2 Column 6 Metro Desk 2 inches; 45 words Type of Material: Correction
Acadia skipper--A story Tuesday on the death of Navy Capt. Joseph F. Eckler, 45, incorrectly reported that the destroyer tender Acadia was his first command ship. It was his second. In addition, the story said the previous commander, Capt. Larry L. King, had retired. King is now with the Navy’s Readiness Support Group.
An autopsy is pending, McLellan said.
Eckler assumed command of the support and repair vessel, which has a crew of 1,200, April 30 after its return from support operations for operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, McLellan said.
Eckler boarded the vessel April 15 while it was at Pearl Harbor and returned to San Diego aboard it April 26.
He replaced Capt. Larry L. King, who retired when the vessel returned from the Gulf.
Before his appointment to the Acadia, his first command, Eckler was stationed at the Naval War College in Newport, R.I.
Eckler is survived by his wife, Marie, and three children.
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