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Adapted from "Captain Joseph Eugene Fenwick, United States Navy" [biography, dated 29 March 1971] in Modern Biographical Files collection, Navy Department Library.
 

 
Topic
  • Antisubmarine
  • Aviation
Document Type
  • Biography
Wars & Conflicts
  • China Service 1937-1939, 1945-1957
  • World War II 1939-1945
  • Vietnam Conflict 1962-1975
File Formats
Location of Archival Materials
  • NHHC-Library

Joseph Eugene Fenwick

10 March 1924-[no death date]

Download PDF Version [100KB]

Joseph Eugene Fenwick was born in Douglas, Wyoming, on March 10, 1924. He attended the University of Wyoming at Laramie and while there was a member of the Reserve Officer Training Corps from September 1942 to March 1943. He enlisted in the US Naval Reserve on March 10, 1943 until May 1943. He remained there as a Yeoman Striker until October of that year, then, und the V-12 Program, entered the University of Washington at Seattle. While there he was a member of the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps during the period June 1944 to February 1946. He received the degree of Bachelor of Science and on February 20, 1946 was commissioned Ensign in the US Naval Reserve. He subsequently advanced in rank to that Captain, to date from July 1, 1967, having transferred from the U.S. Naval Reserve to the US Navy on June 16, 1947.

After receiving his commission in 1946, he had indoctrination at the Naval Training Center, Newport, Rhode Island, until May 1946, then reported on board USS Tucson (CL-98). In May 1947 he joined the Staff of Commander Naval Forces, Western Pacific and in October 1947 was detached for flight at the Naval Air Training Command, Pensacola, Florida. Designated Naval Aviator on June 2, 1949, he next had duty a Flight Officer and Attack Pilot with Attack Squadron One Hundred Ninety Four ad in December 1944 became Operations Officer of that squadron. In June 1950 he transferred to Composite Squadron Seven.

From August 1952 to June 1955 he was s student at the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California, from which he received the degree of Master of Science in Electrical Engineering. He next joined Patrol Squadron Nine and in May 1957 was detached for duty as Antisubmarine Warfare Officer on the Staff of Commander Fleet Air, Alameda, with headquarters at the Naval Air Station, Alameda, California. In August 1958 he reported for instruction (Command and Staff Course) at the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island and during the period June 1959 to February 1960, Patuxent River, Maryland. Upon completing the course in February 1960, he was awarded the Navy League Plaque a Outstanding Student, Class XXIV. He remained at the Naval Air Test Center to serve a Project Coordinator and Project Pilot in the Weapons Test Division.

In February 1962 he joined Scouting Squadron Forty-One as Replacement Pilot and in June of that year transferred to Scouting Squadron Twenty-One to serve as Executive Officer and from July 1963 to July 1964 as Commanding Officer. Following instruction at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Washington, DC, he reported in August 1965 as a Replacement Pilot with Carrier Antisubmarine Air Group Fifty-One and the next month assumed command of Carrier Antisubmarine Air Group Fifty Five. “ For meritorious service while serving as Commander Carrier Antisubmarine Air Group Fifty-Five, in USS Yorktown, in Southeast Asia from February 26 to July 2, 1966…” he was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal.  

In October 1966 he joined USS Bennington (CVS-20) as Executive Officer and in February 1968 was detached for duty at the Naval Air Systems Command, Navy Department, Washington, D.C. Transferred in March 1970 to the Naval Electronic Systems Command, Navy Department, he now serves as Project Manager of the Navy Special Remote Senor Project.

In addition to the Navy Commendation Medal, Captain Fenwick has the American Campaign Medal; World War II Victory Medal; China Service Medal; Navy Occupation Service Medal, Asia Clasp; National Defense Service Medal with bronze star; and the Vietnam Service Medal with three stars. He also has the Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device.

He is a member of the American Ordnance Association and the Association of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. His hobbies are music and electronics.

END

Published: Mon Oct 19 11:02:45 EDT 2020