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Adapted from "Captain Charles Barrett Carroll, United States Navy, Deceased"
[biography, dated 31 May 1966] in Modern Biographical Files collection, Navy Department Library.

 
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  • Communications--Visual –Signals, Radio and Voice
  • Cruises, Deployments, and Exercises
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  • Biography
Wars & Conflicts
  • Korean Conflict 1950-1954
  • World War II 1939-1945
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  • NHHC-Library

Charles Barrett Carroll

 

14 September 1912 - 12 October 2006

 

Download PDF Version [163KB]

Charles Barrett Carroll was born on September 14, 1912, in Pasadena, California, son of Albert Edward and Annette (Hugus) Carroll. While attending Harvard College, he joined the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps Unit, and upon graduation was commissioned an Ensign in the US Naval Reserve. After ten years, he was transferred to the US Navy, and subsequently advanced to rank, attaining that of captain, USN, to date from July 1, 1956.

He was called to active duty in November 1939, after several years in Central America as a tropical farm overseer with the United Fruit Company, and was assigned to USS Omaha. In January 1940 he became Radio Officer of USS San Francisco, and from January to June 1941 served s First Lieutenant on board USS Vixen. After submarine training at the Submarine Base, New London, Connecticut, he reported in October 1941 to USS S-31, in which he served for two years as Engineer and Communication Officer. During that period he participated in seven patrols in the Alaskan and South Pacific combat areas.

Returning to the United States in August 1943, he assisted in fitting out USS Plaice at the Navy Yard, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and joined that submarine on her commissioning on February 12, 1944. He subsequently served as Navigator and Executive Officer and participated in four war patrols on board that submarine. He was awarded Bronze Star Medal and a Gold Star in lieu of the second Bronze Star Medal, each with Combat “V.” The citation follow, in part:

Bronze Star Medal: “For meritorious service… while attached to the USS Plaice during that vessel’s First War Patrol in enemy-controlled waters of the Pacific from June 4 to July 25, 1944…(He) rendered valuable assistance to his commanding officer in conducting successful torpedo attacks which resulted in the sinking of four important Japanese vessels and, by his forceful leadership and outstanding professional skill, aided materially in conducting successful evasive tactics under severe enemy countermeasure…”

Gold Star in lieu of the Second Bronze Star Medal: “For meritorious achievement as Diving Officer of a United States Submarine during a War Patrol of that vessel in enemy Japanese-controlled waters.(He) contributed directly to the sinking of an enemy vessel of 3, 000 tons and to the successful evasive of enemy countermeasure. In addition, he assisted in the execution of a special reconnaissance mission…”

Between April and November 1945 he served as Operations Officer on the Staff of Commander Submarine Squadron Four, after which he had duty in connection with relief crews attached to Submarine Division Seventy-Five. In June 1946 he joined USS Massachusetts as Damage Control Officer and First Lieutenant, and in September of that year assumed command of that battleship, then in process of inactivation overhaul. He also served as her Executive Officer until January 1947, prior to her decommissioning in March of that year. During the period February to June 1947 he was a student at the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia, then has instruction in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department, Washington, D.C., preparatory to reporting in July 1947 as Sub-Chief of the US Naval Mission to the Republic of Colombia, at Cartagena.

In January 1950 he returned to the United States and the next month became Inspector-Instructor of Naval Reserves at the Naval Reserve Training Center, at Altoona, Pennsylvania. In December 1951 he assumed command of the USS Lowry, and in January 1954 was detached for duty in the Bureau of Naval Personnel, Navy Department. In June 1955 he was assigned to the Joint Staff of the Commander in Chief, Naval Forces, Far East, at Tokyo, Japan, remaining there until December 1956.

In March 1957 he became Commander Destroyer Division, Two Hundred Thirty Two, and continued to serve in that command until April 1958, when he reported as Chief of Staff, Aide and Operations Officer on the Staff of Commander Cruiser Division Five. He commanded USS Caliente (AO-53) from June 1959 until June 1960, then was assigned to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. In June 1963, he assumed command of the Naval Station, Rodman, Canal Zone and in March 1966 was designated Director of the Field Support Activity, Washington, D.C.

In addition to the Bronze Star Medal with Gold Star and Combat “V,” Captain Carroll has the Naval Reserve Medal; the American Defense Service Medal, Fleet Clasp; American Campaign Medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal; World War II Victory Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Korean Service Medal; and United Nations Service Medal. He has also been awarded the Order of Almitanta Padilla by the Government of Columbia.

Captain Carroll is a member of the Harvard Club of Boston, Massachusetts, the Harvard Club of Maryland, and the Sons of the American Revolution.

He died 12 October 2006.

 

 

END

Published: Thu Sep 03 10:09:12 EDT 2020