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Adapted from "Captain George Waugh Albin, United States Navy" [biography, dated 31 March 1960] in Modern Biographical Files collection, Navy Department Library.

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George Waugh Albin

18 December 1911 - 10 June 1988

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George Waugh Albin was born in Seattle Washington, on 18 December 1911, son of Mrs. George W. (Clarice Effie Bruns) Albin and Mr. Albin. He was graduated from Garfield High School in Seattle in 1929 and during the next four years was a student at the University of Washington, from which he received the degree of Bachelor of Science in Commercial Engineering in 1934. Commissioned Ensign in the US Naval Reserve on 22 June 1933, he was called to active duty on 20 June 1940. Through subsequent advancement and his transfer to the US Navy in 1946, he attained the rank of Captain, USN, to date from 1 March 1957.

After graduation from the University of Washington in June 1934, he worked on the Seattle Waterfront as a foreman of longshoremen for a year, then had engineering work in connection with gold mining near the Arctic Circle in Alaska, this followed by engineering work in Seattle after the Alaskan freeze-up. He served for almost a year as Junior Officer of CCC Company 710, Middle River, Minnesota, and as Junior Officer and Commanding Officer of Company 5703, Pierce, Idaho, in 1936-37, as a Naval Reserve Officer, when the Civilian Conservation Corps was administered by the War Department. In March 1937 he was released from active duty and returned to Seattle where he continued engineering work until ordered to active duty in the Navy in June 1940.

Reporting to the US Navy Submarine School, New London, Connecticut, he was under instruction in submarines from June to September 1940, when he was assigned to USS S-1. He served as First Lieutenant of that submarine, operating in the Atlantic until the outbreak of World War II in December 1941. From January to June 1942 he was under instruction at the Deep Sea Diving School, Navy Yard, Washington, DC, then returned to New London, where for a year he served as Officer in Charge, Submarine Escape Training Tank, at the Naval Submarine Base.

In the rank of Lieutenant Commander he assumed command of USS Chewink (ASR-3) in July 1943, and commanded that submarine rescue vessel, operating under Commander Submarines, Atlantic, until January 1944. He next fitted out and assumed command of another similar vessel, USS Penguin (ASR-12), which also operated under Commander Submarines, Atlantic, until he was detached for instruction as a Prospective Executive Officer and duty in connection with fitting out USS Glynn (APA-239). He served as her Executive Officer during "Magic Carpet" operations, when the Glynn transported troops from the war areas of the Pacific to the United States until May 1946.

With his transfer to the regular Navy, he was ordered to the General Line School, Newport, Rhode Island, where he was a student from June 1946 until May 1947. In July of that year he reported to USS Saint Paul (CA-73), in which he served as First Lieutenant and Damage Control Officer until January 1948, and as Navigator for ten months thereafter. During the latter period the Saint Paul was deployed in the Western Pacific for five months as Flagship for Commander Cruiser Division 3. From February 1949 to February 1951 he was at the Naval Operating Base (now US Naval Station), Subic Bay, Philippine Islands, as Executive Officer, Captain of the Yard, and Commanding Officer of Enlisted Personnel.

In March 1951 he reported to the Naval School, General Line, at Monterey, California, for duty on the Staff as an instructor in the Department of Seamanship and Navigation, and from November 1952 until March 1953 served as Head of that Department. He then had brief instruction at the Prospective Commanding Officers School, San Diego, en route to the Western Pacific, where he assumed command of USS Philip (DDE-498) in May 1953. Under his command that destroyer escort vessel Operated against North Korean and Chinese Communist forces in the Korean Theater during the latter months of hostilities.

Detached from command of USS Philip in July 1955, he reported a month later to the Staff of Commander Service Force, Pacific, as Assistant Force Operations Officer. Two years thereafter he was transferred to duty as Commander Destroyer Division 132, and on 25 September 1958, he was ordered detached for duty as Commanding Officer of USS Merrick (AKA-97). On 18 December 1959, he reported for duty as Chief of Staff and Aide to the Commander Naval Base, Los Angeles, California.

Captain Albin had the American Defense Service Medal, Fleet Clasp; the American Campaign Medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal; World War II Victory Medal; Navy Occupation Service Medal, Asia Clasp; China Service Medal (extended); National Defense Service Medal; Korean Service Medal with two operation stars; United Nations Service Medal; and the Korean Presidential Unit Citation Badge. He also had the Army Commendation Ribbon with Metal Pendant.

END 

Published: Fri Jan 05 11:57:50 EST 2018