Return to Frequently
Asked Questions page. 
Return to Frequently
Asked Questions page. 
James Earle (Jimmy) Carter, Jr., who in 1976
became the fifth consecutive President with prior Navy service,
was born in Plains, Georgia on 1 October 1924, to Lillian Gordy
and James Earle Carter. Carter grew up in a rural atmosphere and
attended public schools. Graduating from Plains High School in
1941, he attended Georgia Southwestern College in Americus, Georgia.
After a year there, Carter transferred to Georgia Institute of
Technology to study mathematics for a year in order to qualify
for the U.S. Naval Academy. In 1943, Carter received an appointment
to the academy and became a member of the Class of 1947. After
completing the accelerated wartime program, he graduated on 5
June 1946 with distinction and obtained his commission as ensign.
After he graduated, Carter was stationed at Norfolk and assigned
to USS Wyoming (E-AG 17), an older battleship that had
been converted into a floating laboratory for testing new electronics
and gunnery equipment. On Wyoming, Carter served as radar
officer and CIC officer. Detached when Wyoming was decommissioned
on 23 July 1947, he was assigned that day to another similarly
used battleship, USS Mississippi (E-AG 128) as Training
and Education Officer. After completing two years of surface ship
duty, Carter chose to apply for submarine duty. Accepted, he began
the six-month course at the U.S. Navy Submarine School, Submarine
Base, New London, Connecticut from 14 June to 17 December 1948.
Upon completion of the course, Carter was assigned to USS Pomfret
(SS 391) based at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii where he reported on board
on 29 December. Pomfret left on a simulated war patrol
to the western Pacific and the Chinese coast on 4 January 1949.
On board, Carter qualified in a submarine on 4 February, and served
as Communications Officer, Sonar Officer, Electronics Officer,
Gunnery Officer and Supply Officer. On 9 March, he served as the
approach officer for a simulated torpedo firing at target ships,
and scored a "hit." The submarine returned to Pearl
Harbor on 25 March. Soon after Carter's promotion to Lieutenant
Junior Grade on 5 June 1949, Pomfret was sent in July to
San Diego where the submarine operated along the California coast.
Detached from Pomfret on 1 February 1951, Carter was assigned
as Engineering Officer for the precommissioning detail for USS
K-1 (SSK 1). K-1, the first postwar submarine built,
was under construction by Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics
Corporation, Groton, Connecticut. After K-1's commissioning
on 10 November 1951, Carter served as Executive Officer, Engineering
Officer, and Electronics Repair Officer. During this tour he also
qualified for command of a submarine.
When Admiral Hyman G. Rickover (then a captain) started his program
to create nuclear powered submarines, Carter wanted to join the
program and was interviewed by Rickover. On 1 June 1952, Carter
was promoted to Lieutenant. Selected by Rickover, Carter was detached
on 16 October 1952 from K-1 for duty with the U. S. Atomic
Energy Commission, Division of Reactor Development in Schenectady,
New York. From 3 November 1952 to 1 March 1953, he served on temporary
duty with the Naval Reactors Branch, U. S. Atomic Energy Commission,
Washington, DC to assist "in the design and development of
nuclear propulsion plants for naval vessels."
From 1 March to 8 October, Carter was preparing to become the
engineering officer for the nuclear power plant to be placed in
USS Seawolf (SSN 575), one of the first submarines to operate
on atomic power. He assisted in setting up training for the enlisted
men who would serve on Seawolf. During this time his father
became very sick and died in July 1953. After his father's death
in 1953, Carter resigned from the Navy to return to Georgia to
manage the family interests. Carter was honorably discharged on
9 October 1953 at Headquarters, Third Naval District in New York
City. On 7 December 1961, he transferred to the retired reserve
with the rank of Lieutenant at his own request.
19 October 1997