Charles William Weitzel
Rear Admiral (retired) Charles William Weitzel, (19 April, 1895 – 1 September, 1979) served in the United States Navy.
Life & Career
Weitzel was born in Pennsylvania but was appointed to the Naval Academy from Colorado, graduating with the Class of 1917 and being commissioned Ensign on 30 March, 1917. Like most of his classmates, Weitzel received rapid early promotions due to World War I. He was promoted to the temporary rank of Lieutenant (Junior Grade) on 1 July, 1917 and to the temporary rank of Lieutenant on 1 February, 1918. This latter rank became permanent on 1 July, 1920. He saw early service on battleships, including Oklahoma and Utah, before focusing on submarine service.[1][2][3][4][5]
By late 1921 Weitzel was appointed to command submarine R-23 and remained in command until early 1924.[6][7][8] He later served on recruiting duty in Denver, Colorado before returning to sea. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander on 1 October, 1929. In the early 1930's he assumed his second submarine command, submarine S-35 from 1932 to 1934. When he left this assignment, it marked an end to his submarine service.[9][10][11][12]
After having been promoted to the rank of Commander on 1 July, 1937, Weitzel served as Executive Officer of a repair ship and then commanded a destroyer. During World War II, he commanded an attack transport, served as Chief of Staff to the Commander, Amphibious Training, Pacific Fleet, and ended the war in command of a Transport Division. Along the way, he was promoted to Captain, to rank from 20 June, 1942.[13][14][15] Among other honors, he received an honorary OBE from the British government for his wartime service.[16]
Weitzel retired on 1 April, 1947 on his own application after 30 years of service, and was advanced to the rank of Rear Admiral that same day on the basis of his combat awards. His second wife hailed from New Zealand, and Weitzel died in Auckland in September, 1979.
Bibliography
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by Cassin Young |
Captain of U.S.S. R-23 c. Dec, 1921[17] – after 1 Jan, 1924[18] |
Succeeded by Robert W. Boughter |
| Preceded by John C. Lusk |
Captain of U.S.S. S-35 before Oct, 1932[19] – 4 May, 1934[20] |
Succeeded by ? |
Footnotes
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1918. p. 80.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1919. p. 82.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1921. p. 58.
- ↑ Navy Directory 1 March, 1918 p. 174.
- ↑ Navy Directory 1 April, 1919 p. 399.
- ↑ Washington Herald 7 December, 1921 p. 18.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1922. pp. 56-57.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1924. pp. 66-67.
- ↑ Navy Directory 1 July, 1924 p. 83.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1930. p. 56.
- ↑ Navy Directory 1 October, 1932 pp. 95, 191.
- ↑ Honolulu Star Bulletin 10 August, 1934 p. 1.
- ↑ Navy Directory 1 September, 1937 pp. 105, 209.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1940. pp. 42-43.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1945. p. 25.
- ↑ Los Angeles Evening Citizen News (HOllywood, CA) 12 May, 1947 p. 3.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1922. pp. 56-57.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1924. pp. 66-67.
- ↑ Navy Directory 1 October, 1932 pp. 95, 191.
- ↑ Honolulu Star Bulletin 10 August, 1934 p. 1.
