Robert Carney
Robert Carney | |
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Battles/wars | World War I World War II |
Awards | Navy Cross Navy Distinguished Service Medal (4) Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal |
Relations | Robert B. Carney Jr. (son) |
Other work | Chairman of the Board, Bath Iron Works |
Robert Bostwick Carney (March 26, 1895 – June 25, 1990) was an
Early years
Born in Vallejo, California, Carney graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1916. He served in World War I, seeing combat against German U-boats.
Between wars
Carney served as Flag Secretary to Admiral Louis R. de Steiguer during the mid-1920s during de Steiguer's time in command of various battleship forces. Their relationship was not happy, mainly due to de Steiguer's imperious manner described by Carney as "constant pressure, irascibility, criticism, and unpleasantness".
Famously, Carney eventually marched into de Steiguer's cabin, snapped, "Admiral, I just want to tell you I think you are a goddamn rotten son of a bitch," and stormed out. After failing to retrieve Carney with a
World War II
In February 1941, then Commander Carney was recalled from duty in the Pacific to assist in organizing, equipping, and training a special Surface-Air Force, having as its mission the protection of shipping against
From October 15, 1942, until July 1943 Carney commanded the
On July 29, 1943, Carney was appointed
Displaying sound judgement and distinctive tactical ability, he conceived and correlated the many offensive operations carried out in the Solomon Islands and Bismarck Archipelago areas. Through his comprehensive knowledge of logistics and his expert planning, he enabled our Forces to exert their greatest strength against the enemy and administer a series of crushing defeats on the Japanese.
When Halsey assumed command of the Third Fleet in the Central Pacific in June 1944, Carney accompanied him as Chief of Staff. Carney participated in the amphibious invasions of
Later, Carney continued to assist Halsey as Chief of Staff during his operations in the
Carney arranged with Japanese emissaries for the entry of the Third Fleet into
Post-war
In 1946, Carney was promoted to vice admiral and, until February 1950, served as
From 1951 to 1953, Carney served as Commander-in-Chief of the
On May 13, 1953, President Dwight D. Eisenhower selected Carney as the next Chief of Naval Operations. On completion of this assignment, Carney retired from active service in the Navy.
Over the next several years, Carney's various assignments, coupled with his personal interest in industrial participation in the defense effort, resulted in close contact with industry including the position of chairman of the board, Bath Iron Works, Corporation.
Carney died of cardiac arrest in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 1990, at the age of 95. He and his wife are buried at Arlington National Cemetery.[5] USS Carney (DDG-64) and Carney Park were named in his honor.
Honors and awards
1st Row | Navy Cross
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award stars
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"V" Device
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2nd Row | Bronze Star Medal w/ "V" Device | World War I Victory Medal w/ Commendation Star and Escort Clasp | American Defense Service Medal w/ Atlantic Clasp | |||||||||
3rd row | American Campaign Medal | European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
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Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ with one silver and four bronze service stars
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4th row | World War II Victory Medal
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Navy Occupation Service Medal | National Defense Service Medal | |||||||||
5th row | Order of British Empire
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Philippine Liberation Medal w/ two stars | Unidentified |
Notes
- ^ Taussig, Betty Carney (1995), A Warrior for Freedom, Manhattan, Kansas: Sunflower University Press, at 42–43
- ^ Carney, Robert B., ADM USN "Comment and Discussion" United States Naval Institute Proceedings January 1976 p. 74
- ISBN 9780253345288.
- ^ "Books: The General and the Admiral". Time. November 10, 1947. Archived from the original on January 30, 2009.
- ^ Burial Detail: Carney, Robert B – ANC Explorer
References
- This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
- "Admiral Robert B. Carney". Biographies in Naval History. Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. August 11, 2008. Retrieved August 16, 2008.
- Narvaez, Alfonso A. (June 27, 1990). "Adm. Robert B. Carney, 95, Dies; Former Chief of Naval Operations". New York Times. Retrieved August 16, 2008.
External links
- Robert B. Carney Collection, 1912–1995 MS 472 held by Special Collections & Archives, Nimitz Library at the United States Naval Academy