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Adapted from "Rear Admiral Kenneth M. Carr, United States Navy, Deceased"
[biography, dated 10 August 1973] in Modern Biographical Files collection, Navy Department Library.

 
Topic
  • Operations
  • Boats-Ships--Submarine
Document Type
  • Biography
Wars & Conflicts
  • Korean Conflict 1950-1954
  • World War II 1939-1945
File Formats
  • Image (gif, jpg, tiff)
Location of Archival Materials
  • NHHC-Library

Kenneth Monroe Carr

17 March 1925-15 November 2015


Photo of Rear Admiral Kenneth M. Carr copied from page 296 of the 1949 edition of the U.S. Naval Academy yearbook 'Lucky Bag'.

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Kenneth Monroe Carr was born in Mayfield, Kentucky, on March 17, 1925, son of Samuel Norman and Nancy Elmore (Monroe) Carr. He graduated from San Bernardino High School and attended San Bernardino Valley College, prior to enlisting on March 3, 1943 in the US Navy. He had recruit training at the Naval Training Station, San Diego, California, until May 1943, then attended the Naval Academy Preparatory School, San Diego. From August 1943 to February 1944 he was attached to Standard Landing Craft Unit #16 and in that assignment served in various transports (attack and high speed), including USS President Jackson, which landed elements of the Third Maine Division on Bougainville in November 1943. He is entitled to the Ribbon for and a facsimile of the Navy Unit Commendation awarded the President Jackson.

In February 1944 he joined Boat Pool #12 at Nissan Island, Solomon Islands, where he remained until June 1944. In February of that year, he participated in the initial landing on Green Island, Bismarck Archipelago. Under the V-12 Program, he next attended the University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky and in June 1945 entered the US Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, on appointment from the State of California. Graduated and commissioned Ensign on June 3, 1949, he subsequently advanced in rank to that of Captain, to date from August 1, 1968. His selection for the rank of Rear Admiral was approved by the President on March 28, 1973.

Following graduation from the Naval Academy in 1949, he joined USS Eversole (DD-789) and in May 1950 transferred to the USS Flying Fish (SS-229). Detached from that submarine in June 1950, he next had submarine training at the Submarine School, New London, Connecticut and in January 1951 was assigned as Assistant in the Production Department at the Mare Island (California) Naval Shipyard. As such he had duty with the pre-commissioning detail of USS Blackfin (SS-322), undergoing conversion to a Guppy submarine. He reported on board that submarine as Supply Officer upon her recommissioning, May 15, 1955, and subsequently served, November 1951 to January 1953, as Gunnery Officer, then Engineer Officer.

During the period October 1953 to January 1954 he attended the Nuclear Propulsion Schools at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Arco, Idaho, after which he was assigned to the Office of the Supervisor of Shipbuilding, USN, Groton, Connecticut, as a member of the pre-commissioning detail of USS Nautilus (SSN-571). He reported on board the Nautilus, the world’s first nuclear-powered warship, upon her commissioning, January 4, 1960. After advanced nuclear power instruction, June 1956 to May 1957, he rejoined USS Nautilus (SSN-571). He reported on board the Nautilus, the world’s first nuclear-powered warship, upon her commissioning, January 4, 1960. After advanced nuclear power instruction, June 1956 to May 1957, he rejoined USS Nautilus. He was on board, when on August 3, 1958, she made the first voyage in history from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean by way of the North Pole, accomplishing this feat by passing some four hundred feet under the ice at the Pole. He is entitled to the Ribbon for and a facsimile of the Presidential Unit Citation awarded USS Nautilus.

From December 1960 to March 1962 he was Executive Officer of USS Scorpion (SSN-589), after which he had pre-commissioning duty in USS James Monroe (SSBN-622), building at the Newport News (Virginia) Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company. He joined that fleet ballistic missile submarine upon her commissioning, December 7, 1963. Detached from that undersea craft in March 1964, he had instruction at the US Atomic Energy Commission, Washington, DC.

He next served as Prospective Commanding Officer of USS Flasher (SSN-613), building at the General Dynamics Corporation, Quincy (Massachusetts) Shipbuilding Division and Commanding Officer of the Flasher’s  Pre-commissioning Unit. He assumed command upon her commissioning, July 22, 1966. He was awarded the Legion of Merit “for exceptionally meritorious conduct . . . during the spring of 1967 . . .” He is also entitled to the Ribbon for and a facsimile of the Meritorious Unit Commendation awarded the Flasher. In August 1967 he became Commanding Officer of the Gold Crew of USS John Adams (SSBN-620).

He reported in July 1968 as Head of the Submarine Warfare Branch, Undersea Warfare Development Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department, Washington, DC. He remained there until July 1970, after which he served as Senior Member of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Examining Board, US Atlantic Fleet. “For outstanding meritorious service . . . from August 1970 to April 1972 . . .” he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. The citation further states in part: “. . . His application of meticulous professionalism and his close supervision of the Board’s efforts contributed directly to the maintenance of high standards in operational reactor safeguards examinations and to the continuing operational safety of Atlantic Fleet nuclear powered ships . . .”

In April 1972 he reported as Chief of Staff and Aide to Commander Submarine Force, US Atlantic Fleet and a year later became Military Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense, Washington, DC.

In addition to the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon, the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon and the Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon, Captain Carr has the American Campaign Medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal; World War II Victory Medal; National Defense Service Medal with bronze star; Korean Service Medal and the United Nations Service Medal. He also has the Korean Presidential Unit Citation Badge.

He died November 15, 2015.

END

Published: Thu Jul 09 09:37:26 EDT 2020