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Adapted from "Captain Robert Mackin Carroll, United States Navy, Deceased"
[biography, dated 25 January 1960] in Modern Biographical Files collection, Navy Department Library.

 
Topic
  • Logistics
  • Ordnance and Weapons
  • Navigation
Document Type
  • Biography
Wars & Conflicts
  • China Service 1937-1939, 1945-1957
  • World War II 1939-1945
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Location of Archival Materials
  • NHHC-Library

Robert Mackin Carroll

16 September 1916 - 18 January 1960

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Robert Mackin Carroll was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, on September 16, 1916, son of Mrs. Frederick A. Carroll and the late R.M Carroll, Sr. he attended Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, where he played Varsity Baseball and was a member of Alpha Delta Phi and Sphinx Senior Society. Graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1938, he was employed for two years thereafter by the New England Power Company. On February 14, 1941 he was appointed Midshipman in the US Naval Reserve, under the V-7 Program. After a period of instruction at the Reserve Midshipman School at the US Naval Academy he was commissioned Ensign to date from June 15, 1941. Through subsequent advancement and his transfer from the Reserve to the US Navy on September 11, 1946, he attained the rank of Captain, to date from August 1, 1959.

From June to December 1941 he served in the submarine R-3 and S-26, and after instruction at the Submarine Base, New London, Connecticut, reported to  USS Sturgeon for duty as First Lieutenant and Torpedo and Gunnery Officer. He participated in seven war patrols of that submarine and was awarded the Silver Star Medal for “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Torpedo Data Officer of USS Sturgeon during the Ninth War Patrol of that vessel in enemy Japanese controlled waters from December 13, 1943 to February 6, 1944…” The citation states further:

“… (He) rendered invaluable assistance to his commanding officer in conducting highly successful attacks against hostile shipping which resulted in the sinking of three enemy freighters totaling over 19000 tons and the damaging  of an enemy tanker and a destroyer… (and) contributed materially to the success of his vessel in evading severe enemy countermeasures and returning safe to port…”

Detached from the Sturgeon in February 1944, he had two month’s duty as Executive Officer of the Relief Crew of Submarine Division 45, attached to USS Snapper, and based at Pearl Harbor, TH. In May of that year he reported to the Electric Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut, to assist in fitting out USS Chub (SS-329). From her commissioning, October 21, 1944, until October 1945, he served as Torpedo and Gunnery Officer, Executive Officer and Navigator, while that submarine made three war patrol in the Pacific.

Upon his return to the United States, he was relived of all active duty, and following three months terminal leave, was ordered to further active duty with the Naval Reserve, until June 1946, first as Executive Officer and Navigator of USS Croaker, (SS-246), and later in command of USS Greenling (SS-219). From July 1946 to May 1947, he had instruction at the Naval School of General Line, Newport, Rhode Island, and during that period transferred to the regular Navy.

He served as Executive Officer and Navigator of USS Razorback (SS-394) from June 1947 to April 1949, after which he had a tour of duty in the Navy Department, Washington, D.C., first assigned to the Enlisted Detail Division, in the Bureau of Naval Personnel, and from February 1950 to June 1951 as Aide to the Vice Chief of Naval Operations. Temporary duty at the Submarine Base, New London, preceded his assuming command, in August 1951, of  USS Amberjack (SS-522), which he commanded until September 1952. He then served fourteen months as Commanding Officer of USS Gudgeon (SS-567), a new construction Tang-Class attack submarine based at Pearl Harbor, TH.

From December 1953 to July 1955 he served as Personnel Officer on the Staff of Commander Submarines, Pacific, after which he was designated Assistant Logistics Officer on the Staff of the Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet. He was a student at the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia, for five months in 1956-1957, and under orders of March 5, 1957, later assumed command of  USS Orion (AS-18). A year later he was transferred to command of Submarine Division 62, and on December 5, 1958, was ordered to the Royal Naval Staff College, Greenwich, England.

Captain Carroll was one of seven US Naval Officers killed on January 18, 1960 in the crash of a commercial airplane enroute from Washington, D.. to Norfolk, Virginia, where they were to attend a Military Conference.

 

END

Published: Thu Sep 03 14:43:24 EDT 2020