Charles L. Melson - Annapolis MD - Grave of a Famous Person on Waymarking.com

He is buried in the United States Naval Academy Cemetery.

Description: From Find A Grave: US Navy Admiral. He served as the Superintendent of the US Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland and the 33rd president of the Naval War College at Newport, Rhode Island. Born in Richmond, Virginia on May 25, 1904, he received an appointment to the US Naval Academy in 1923 and graduated in 1927 with an officer's commission. Prior to World War II, he served aboard ten different ships including the destroyer USS Dickerson, the heavy cruiser USS Northampton, and the battleship USS Pennsylvania. He also returned to the U.S. Naval Academy to earn a graduate degree in naval engineering. After the US entry into World War II on December 7, 1941, he was assigned to the staff of the Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet, where he served as assistant operations officer. In November 1942, at the rank of lieutenant commander, he commanded the destroyer USS Champlin that provided escort duty to merchant ships in the North Atlantic Ocean and also participated in Operation Husky, the Allied amphibious invasion of Sicily in July through August 1943. In March 1944 he became the commanding officer of Destroyer Division 32, which he commanded during the latter portions of Operation Shingle, the Allied invasion of Anzio, Italy, as well as Operation Dragoon, the Allied invasion of southern France in August 1944. The following November, he moved to the staff of Commander, Destroyers, United States Atlantic Fleet, where he was the operations officer and assistant chief of staff, followed by chief of staff to Commander, Battleship Division Five, and operations and plans officer to the Sixteenth Fleet. After World War II he returned to the US and attended the Naval War College, first completing a year of studies in 1948 and then remaining at the college for another year as an instructor. He then served as the commander of Destroyer Squadron 20, then as administrative aid to the Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy. During the Korean War, he was the commanding officer of the flagship of the United States Seventh Fleet, the battleship USS New Jersey, serving also as Commander, Task Force 70.1. He remained in command of the New Jersey through the end of the war in July 1953 and until the following October. In June 1955 he was promoted to the rank of rear admiral and became deputy chief of staff for the commander of the Atlantic Fleet, followed by the command of Cruiser Division 4 until April 1958. In June 1958 he was appointed Superintendent of the US Naval Academy, serving until June 1960. In July 1960 he became the commander of the United States First Fleet until April 1962, when he served a two-year tour as commander of the US Taiwan Defense Command until July 1964. As a vice admiral, he then became the 33rd President of the Naval War College, serving until January 1966. During his presidency, he supported a greater emphasis on basic naval subjects, expanded the use of the Naval Electronic Warfare Simulator (NEWS) in the college's wargaming center, and oversaw the construction of an addition to Mahan Hall for an expanded library collection. He retired from the Navy upon the conclusion of his college presidency, with almost 39 years of continuous military service. Among his military decorations and awards include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit with two gold stars and a Combat "V" device, the Bronze Star Medal, and the Navy Commendation Medal with two gold stars and one Combat "V" device. He died on September 14, 1981 at the age of 77. Date of birth: 05/24/1904 Date of death: 09/14/1981 Area of notoriety: Military Marker Type: Monument Setting: Outdoor Fee required?: No Web site: [Web Link] Visiting Hours/Restrictions: Not listed

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Date Logged Log   10/09/2021 Don.Morfe visited it