Admiral Charles A. Macgowan M. N? 2092 Navy Yangtze Medal Numbered Uss Arizona
United States Navy Rear Admiral Charles Alton MacGowan was born November 12th 1890 in Portland, Maine. He attended Portland High School. While a student at this institution, he displayed interest in military tactics, and was active in the high school cadet organization, serving in Company B with the rank of second lieutenant. He was keenly interested in rifle practice and was a member of the rifle team which won the New England High School Championship. Following his graduation from high school, he was appointed to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis as a midshipmen. He graduated and was commissioned an Ensign on June 6th 1914. He was promoted to Lieutenant J. And transferred to the battleship U. Georgia where he served during World War I. He served as radio officer and engineering repair officer aboard the battleships U. Arizona and then transferred to the staff of Admiral Louis R. De Steiguer on the battleship U. California, where he served as radio officer for the Pacific Fleet. MacGowan was promoted to Captain and served aboard the battleship U. West Virginia in the late 1920’s. He was promoted to Lieutenant commander and served in Shanghai China aboard the armored cruiser U. Rochester in the early 1930’s. He was issued a Yangtze Service medal for his time aboard the Rochester. He would then serve aboard the light cruiser U. Savannah in the late 1930’s and in the 18th Destroyer Fleet in the Pacifie during World War Il. He later became officer in charge of Indoctrination and Communication at the Naval Training School at Harvard University in 1942. He was awarded the Bronze Star and Navy Commendation Medals during the war. Commander MacGowan’s son, Captain Richard Alton MacGowan of the 698th Ordnance Company in the Philippines was captured at the Fall of Bataan on Corregidor Island following the American surrender on May 6th 1942, and died of malaria on July 25th 1942, at the Cabanatuan Prison Camp in Nueva Ecija Province, Philippines. After the war, MacGowan was promoted to Commander and served as engineering repair officer at Bordeaux, France, before volunteering for the Submarine School at New London, Connecticut where he earned his Dolphins. Shortly after the war, Commander MacGowan retired from the navy. He was promoted to Rear Admiral on August 7th 1947. Admiral MacGowan passed away on August 19th 1968 at Letterman Hospital in San Francisco, California. He is buried at the Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia. I will include 60 full size color printed pages of the research presented. ORIGINAL UNITED STATES NAVY YANGTZE SERVICE CAMPAIGN MEDAL W/ FULL WRAP BROOCH. PRODUCED BY THE U. N? 2092 (TRACED IN ROLLS TO ADMIRAL CHARLES MACGOWAN). RE-RIBBONED PERIOD DRAPE TESTED U. Please let me know if there’s anything else I can do for you!