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Gulf of Oman - February 2012
Arabian Sea - February 2012
Arabian Sea - February 2012
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Arabian Sea - February 2012
Arabian Sea - February 2012
Arabian Sea - February 2012
Suez Canal - January 2012
Arabian Sea - January 2012
USNS Charles R. Drew (T-AKE-10) refuels
USS Momsen (DDG-92) - Arabian Sea - January 2012
Everett, Washington - August 2011
Everett, Washington - March 2011
Pacific Ocean - September 2010
Pacific Ocean - September 2010
Mk-45 mod.4 5-inch/62-caliber gun -
Pacific Ocean - July 2010
Seattle, Washington - July 2009
Seattle, Washington - July 2009
Everett, Washington - October 2008
Indian Ocean - September 2008
Indian Ocean - September 2008
Pacific Ocean - January 2008
Everett, Washington - April 2007
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Everett, Washington - September 2006
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Everett, Washington - April 2006
Everett, Washington - October 2004
San Francisco Bay, California - October
2004
Panama City, Florida - August 2004
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Vice Admiral Charles Bowers “Swede” Momsen
(June 21, 1896 – May 25, 1967):
Charles Bowers Momsen was born in Flushing, Long Island, New York, on 21 June
1896, son of Hart and Susie (Bowers) Momsen. Nicknamed "The Swede,"
Momsen was in reality of Danish descent. He attended public schools in
Washington, DC and St. Paul, Minnesota, before his appointment in 1916 to the
US Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, from the Fourth District of Minnesota.
As a midshipman he played football and baseball, and during the summer of
1918, served in USS Kansas (Battleship No.21) on Atlantic escort duty during
World War I. He was graduated and commissioned ensign on 7 June 1919.
He remained in Annapolis under instruction until September, when he joined
USS Oklahoma (Battleship No.37), operating with Division Seven, Battleship
Squadron Three, Atlantic Fleet. Detached in June 1921, he reported to the
Newport News (Virginia) Shipbuilding Company where USS Maryland (Battleship
No.46) was fitting out. He served aboard that battleship from her
commissioning on 21 July 1921 until September 1921. Following submarine
training at the Naval Submarine Base, New London, Connecticut, he reported in
January 1922 as Executive Officer of the submarine USS O-13 (SS-74), based at
Coco Solo in the Panama Canal Zone. From June 1923 to June 1927 he
successfully commanded the submarines 0-15 (SS-76), R-24 (SS-101) and S-1
(SS-105).
He then served a tour of duty at the Design Division of the Bureau of
Construction and Repair, Navy Department, Washington, DC. Detached in June
1929, he was ordered to the Submarine Safety Test Unit, aboard USS S-4
(SS-109), a floating laboratory. During this period, which ended in September
1932, he was engaged in the design of a submarine escape breathing apparatus,
later known as the "Momsen Lung." For this development, he was
awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, with citation which states in part:
"During the early stages of its (the Lung's) design and development
(he)...courageously, repeatedly and voluntarily risked his life in conducting
experiments of a nature such that there was little or no information
available as to their probable results. In the later tests of the device,
when escapes were made from USS S-4 submerged to depths as much as 206 feet,
he was not only the first person to venture the escape but also the leading
and guiding spirit in all subsequent ones..."
Between September 1932 and March 1934 he was assigned to the Submarine Base,
Pearl Harbor, and for ten months thereafter he had sea duty as Engineering
Officer of USS Oglala (CM-4). Detached from that minelayer in January 1935,
he reported the following month as Executive Officer of submarine tender USS
Canopus (AS-9), a unit of Submarine Squadron Five. In February 1936 he was
transferred to the light cruiser USS Augusta (CL-31) for services first as
Engineer Officer, and later, as First Lieutenant and Damage Control Officer.
In August 1937 he reported as Officer in Charge of Experimental Diving at the
Navy Yard, Washington, D.C. While there, he helped develop a new set of
decompression tables and supported proposals for the use of a helium and
oxygen air mixture in deep diving operations. He also assisted in the
successful salvage and rescue of crew members from the submarine Squalus
after she sank in approximately two hundred and forty feet of water off the
Isle of Shoals in May 1939. For especially creditable and outstanding
performance of duty during this operation, he was commended by the President
of the United States and the Secretary of the Navy.
After assuming command of the cargo ship USS Sirius (AK-15) in September 1939
he remained there until October 1941 when he was detached for duty in the
Fourteenth Naval District, Pearl Harbor, T. H. Momsen remained there in
connection with war operations after the Japanese attack on 7 December 1941,
and in July 1942 was designated as Assistant Chief of Staff and War Plans
Officer, to the Commander Hawaiian Sea Frontier. In February 1943 he reported
as Commander Submarine Squadron Two, and in November of the same year
transferred in like capacity, to Submarine Squadron Four. For his special
contributions to submarine warfare from February 1943 to June 1944, he was
awarded the Navy Cross, the Legion of Merit, and a Gold Star in lieu of a
second Legion of Merit, with Combat "V." The citations follow, in
part:
Navy Cross: "For extraordinary heroism as Commander of a Coordinated
Attack Group of Submarines operating in the enemy Japanese-controlled waters
of the East China Sea. A master of submarine warfare, (he) evolved a doctrine
of attack whereby submarines could be organized into an attack group capable
of operating deep in enemy-controlled waters while maintaining full striking
power...The submarines under his command sank five Japanese ships totaling
over 38,000 tons and damaged eight ships totaling 63,000 tons..."
Legion of Merit: "For exceptionally meritorious conduct...as Commander
Submarine Squadron Two...With unfailing patience and a careful analysis of
the faulty performance of submarine torpedo exploders which resulted in an
alarming number of duds occurring in attacks by submarines of this force,
(he) personally supervised an investigation to determine the weaknesses of
the exploder then in use and, correlating his own ideas with those submitted
by others, succeeded in developing a vastly improved exploder which insured
efficiency of our submarines in subsequent actions. During one experimental
phase of the program when a war shot torpedo fired into a cliff failed to
explode, he unhesitatingly, and at great risk of life, entered the water and
assisted in the recovery of this live torpedo for further
examination..."
Gold Star in lieu of Second Legion of Merit: "For...outstanding
services...as Commander Submarine Squadron Two from February to November
1943, and as Commander Submarine Squadron Four from November 1943 to May
1944, with additional duty as Chief of Staff, Commander Training Command,
Submarine Forces, United States Pacific Fleet, from November 1943 to April
1944...(He) was responsible in a large way for the success of Squadron Two and
Four in completing many war patrols in enemy waters and in sinking many
thousands of tons of hostile shipping..."
Between June and December 1944, he had duty in the Office of the Chief of
Naval Operations, Navy Department, and when detached he assumed command of
USS South Dakota (BB-57). Under his command, that battleship took part in
operations against Japan, attacking enemy installations in the area of Tokyo.
"For exceptionally meritorious conduct...as Commanding Officer of USS
South Dakota... from December 1944 to August 1945..." he was awarded a
Gold Star in lieu of the Third Legion of Merit, with Combat "V."
The citation states that he "contributed in a large measure to the
infliction of serious damage upon enemy forces and shore installations, and effectively
directed his ship in numerous air actions and several bombardments of enemy
shore defenses including the first Naval bombardment of the Japanese main
island of Honshu."
He also received a letter of commendation from the Commander Fifth Fleet, with
authorization to wear the Commendation Ribbon and Combat "V," for
outstanding service while in command of USS South Dakota during the support
of the assault operations on Okinawa from 14 March to 14 May 1945.
When relieved of the command of South Dakota in July 1945, he was assigned to
Headquarters, Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, at the Navy
Department, Washington, DC, to prepare for the invasion of Japan, scheduled
for April 1946. After the Japanese surrender on 2 September 1945, he was ordered
to duty as Administrator, US Naval Shipping Control Authority for Japanese
Merchant Marine, concerned with repatriation of Japanese civilian and
military personnel. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal by the War
Department, and cited as follows:
"(He) performed exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in
Japan from November 1945 to October 1946. He directed the shipping of the
Japanese Civilian Merchant Marine in repatriating nearly six million people.
He provided for the proficient training of Japanese crews, and resourcefully
integrated United States and Japanese shipping into an effective organization
which insured the safe and expeditious return of millions of displaced
persons to their homes..."
On 15 October 1946, he became Commandant of the Naval Operating Base, Guam,
Marianas Islands, continuing to serve as such until January 1947, when he
joined the staff of Commander, Marianas Islands as Chief of Staff and Aide.
After his return to the United States, he was a member of the General Board,
Navy Department, from June 1947 to May 1948, and for three years thereafter
served as Assistant Chief of Naval Operations for Undersea Warfare, Navy
Department.
On 21 May 1951 he reported as Commander Submarine Force, Pacific Fleet, in which
assignment he served for two years. On 2 June 1953 he was sent to Boston,
Massachusetts to be Commandant of the First Naval District, with additional
duty as Commander Naval Base, Boston, and Commander Naval Base, Portsmouth,
New Hampshire. In April 1945 he was designated Commander Joint Task Force
Seven, and continued to serve as such until relieved of all active duty
pending his retirement, effective 1 September 1955.
In addition to the Navy Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal (Navy), the
Distinguished Service Medal (Army), the Legion of Merit with two Gold Stars
and Combat "V," and the Commendation Ribbon with Combat
"V," Vice Admiral Momsen received the World War I Victory Medal,
Escort Clasp; the American Defense Service Medal, Fleet Clasp; the
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal; the American Campaign Medal; the World War II
Victory Medal; Navy Occupation Service Medal (Asia Clasp); National Defense
Service Medal; and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one bronze star.
Vice Admiral Momsen was married on 18 December 1953, to Mrs. Anne I. Schmidt
of St. Petersburg, Florida. He has two children by a former marriage,
Commander Charles B. Momsen, Jr., USN (US Naval Academy Class of 1942); and
Mrs. Evelyn Momsen Hailey.
On 1 September 1955 he was transferred to the Retired List of the US Navy,
and was advanced to the rank of Vice Admiral on the basis of combat awards.
After retirement, he served as a consultant to several corporations including
General Dynamics, Raytheon, and US Rubber.
Charles B. Momsen, aged 70, died of cancer on Thursday, 25 May 1967, at Bay
Pine Veterans Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida.
He is buried in section 9 / site 5993 at the Arlington National Cemetery,
Arlington, Virginia.
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