Naval History and Heritage Command

Download PDF Version [218KB]

Eugene James Carroll., was born on December 2, 1923, in Miami, Arizona, son of Eugene J. and Kathleen (Ryden) Carroll. He attended the California Institute of Technology at Pasadena, prior to entering naval service on July 29, 1943. As an Aviation Cadet, he had training at Monmouth (Illinois) College; University of New Mexico at Albuquerque; University of Georgia at Athens and the Naval Air Stations, Memphis, Tennessee and Pensacola, Florida. He was commissioned Ensign in the US Naval Reserve and designated Naval Aviator on April 10, 1945. Advancing progressively in rank, he subsequently attained that of Rear Admiral, to date from November 1, 1972, having transferred from the Naval Reserve to the US Navy on December 26, 1946.

After receiving his commission in 1945, he had further training at the Naval Air Station, Atlanta, Georgia until June of that year. He next served successively as a Flight Instructor at the Naval Auxiliary Air Station, Whiting Field, Milton, Florida; the Naval Air Station, Atlanta, Georgia (December 1945-May 1946) and finally the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida. In March 1947 he reported for ground control approach instruction at the Naval Air Technical Training Center, Olathe, Kansas, and in September of that year was assigned as Ground Control Approach Controller at the Naval Air Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He remained there until January 1949, then attended the General Line School, Monterey, California.

In February 1950 he joined Attack Squadron Sixty-Five, which operated in the Korean area of hostilities, embarked in USS Boxer, USS Valley Forge and USS Philippine Sea. Flying AD Skyraider type aircraft, he engaged in sixty-six combat missions (1950-1951), participating in the Inchon landing through the Hamhung vacuation and in the spring of 1951 the United Nations offensive. He was awarded the Air Medal with Gold Star in lieu of the Second, Third, and Fourth Air medal for “meritorious achievement… during operations against enemy aggressor forces in Korea…” from September 16, 1950 to May 19, 1951.

He reported in February 1952 as Attack Training Officer at the Naval Air Station, Los Angeles, California and in March 1954 joined USS Greenwich Bay (AVP-41), which, as Flagship of the Middle East Force, operated in the Persian Gulf, Indian Ocean and Red Sea. For two years July 1955-June 1957, he served as Maintenance officer of Attack Squadron One Hundred Seventy-Six, after which he attended the Command and Staff course at the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island. In June 1958, he was assigned to the Lieutenant Commander Assignment Desk in the Bureau of Naval Personnel, Navy Department, Washington, DC, where he remained until December 1960. While there, he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from George Washington University, Washington, DC., in 1960. Following replacement air group training with attack Squadron Forty-Four, he became Executive Officer of Attack Squadron Thirty-Six in June 1961 and assumed command of that squadron in May 1962. That squadron, under his command, was deployed in November 1962 for the Cuban confrontation and operated from USS Lexington and USS Saratoga.

During the period August 1963 to July 1964 he attended the Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, and in 1964 received the degree of Masters of Arts in Business Administration from George Washington University. His next assignment was a Commanding Officer of Attack Squadron Forty-Three. In April 1965 he joined USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) to serve Operations Officer and later Executive Officer. While on board he participated in an eight month deployment in Vietnam. “For meritorious service as Operations Officer of Kitty Hawk (CVA-63), Flagship of Commander Attack Carrier Striking Force, Seventh Fleet and Task Group Seventy-Seven Point Six, during the period November 22, 1965 to February 22, 1966 and as Executive Officer… during the period February 23 to May 23, 1966… (during) extensive and devastating air attacks against the insurgent communist guerrilla forces in Vietnam…” he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. He also entitled to the Ribbon for and a facsimile of the Navy Unit Commendation awarded the USS Kitty Hawk.

He had duty from June 1966 to November 1967 as Operations Officer and Training Officer on the Staff of Commander Carrier Division One. He was awarded the Legion of Merit and cited as follows: “…By his skillful planning and comprehensive knowledge of attack carrier operations, he blended together the many facets of aerial warfare to produce plans, which, when executed, delivered powerful and crippling blows to North Vietnam…” He is entitled to a facsimile of the Navy Unit Commendation awarded USS Enterprise and is authorized to a Bronze Star on his Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon.

He commanded USS Ogden (LPD-15) until March 1969, which, under his command, conducted a series of combat landings of Marine and Army Units in Vietnam in 1968 and 1969. He was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of the Second Bronze Star Medal. The citation follows in part: “… Through his inspirational leadership and advantageous employment of his command against the enemy in seven amphibious assaults, he made a significant contribution to the United States effort in Vietnam…”

He next had temporary duty with Naval Air Force, US Pacific Fleet in preparation for command of USS Midway (CVA-41), undergoing extensive modernization at the San Francisco Bay Naval Shipyard.

He assumed command of that attack carrier upon her recommissioning in January 1970. He was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of the Second Legion of Merit and cited in part as follows: “… From recommissioning of the USS Midway, through predeployment, to operations against the enemy (in Southeast Asia), Captain Carroll’s performance was outstanding…” In July 1971 he reported as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans to the Commander in Chief US Naval Forces, Europe and “for exceptionally meritorious conduct…” in that assignment was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of the Third Legion of Merit. The citation further states in part:

“… A remarkably competent leader, (he) displayed unfailing judgement, aggressive determination and perceptive foresight in the planning, scheduling and conduct of US naval operations in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean, in the Baltic and Mediterranean Seas in the ocean areas of the Middle East…”

In July 1973 he became Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Manpower) with additional duty as Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel (Personnel Planning and Programming).

In addition to the Legion of Merit with Gold Stars, the Bronze Star Medal with Gold Star, the Air Medal with three Gold Stars and the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon with Bronze Star, Rear Admiral Carroll has the China Service Medal; American Campaign Medal; World War II Victory Medal; Navy Occupation Service Medal, Asia Clasp; National Defense Service Medal with bronze star; Korean Service Medal; Vietnam Service Medal with six bronze stars and the United Nations Service Medal. He also has the Navy Distinguished Service Order, Second Class from the Republic of Vietnam, the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross) and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device.

He enjoys hunting and fishing.

He died 19 February 2003.

END