This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Tommy Burgdorf (Birddog), FC2
to remember
Cecil, Charles Purcell, RADM.
If you knew or served with this Sailor and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
Casualty Info
Home Town Louisville, KY
Last Address Bonnie Brae Flat Rock, NC (Wife~Mary Randolph Pelzer Cecil)
Casualty Date Jul 31, 1944
Cause Non Hostile- Died Other Causes
Reason Air Loss, Crash - Sea
Location Tuvalu
Conflict World War II
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
Wall/Plot Coordinates Section 8 Grave 3428
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
On a day in July 1943, a sorry looking group of Navy men—officers and blue-jackets, all lucky to be alive, waded ashore on a Pacific island. Among them was Charles P. Cecil, the tall, cold-eyed skipper of the heroic cruiser Helena, which had been torpedoed in the July 7 Battle of Kula Gulf. With the others. Captain Cecil had floated for hours in the oil-covered waters. He had refused to be picked up until his men were rescued.
It was the second ship Cecil had lost to the enemy. In the Battle of Santa Cruz, in October 1942, he had commanded the lost destroyer Porter. He ruefully remarked: "I guess they have my number."
His number was crossed out when an airplane in which he was riding crashed at a Pacific base on July31, 1943. He was the ninth flag officer (plus one general officer of the Marines) lost by the Navy in operations or action in World War II.
Comments/Citation:
Name of Award
Navy Cross X2
Years Awarded
1942
1943
Details behind Award:
Awarded for actions during World War II
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Captain Charles Purcell Cecil, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commander, Destroyer Squadron FIVE, during the engagement with enemy Japanese forces north of the Santa Cruz Islands on 26 October 1942. Captain Cecil conducted his group so that units under his command maneuvered skillfully in forming a tight defensive screen around a United States carrier in spite of intense and violent action sustained for an hour and a half. Captain Cecil's inspiring leadership and the valiant devotion to duty of his command contributed in large measure to the outstanding success of these vital missions and reflect great credit upon the United States Naval Service. General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 314 (May 1943) Action Date: 26-Oct-42 Service: Navy Rank: Captain Company: Commander Division: Destroyer Squadron 5
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Captain Charles Purcell Cecil, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the Light Cruiser U.S.S. HELENA (CL-50), during operations in Kula Gulf, Solomon Islands, on 5 and 6 July 1943. Commanding his warship during landing operations on New Georgia island, Captain Cecil skillfully maneuvered his ship through submarine-infested waters and effectively bombarded Japanese shore batteries in the face of intense gun and torpedo fire. Twenty-four hours later the Helena participated in an engagement with a numerically superior force and contributed materially to the sinking or severe damaging of all the enemy ships before she was struck by a torpedo. Captain Cecil, calmly and without confusion, directed the abandonment of his sinking ship, and continued supervision of rescue operations from a small life raft. Captain Cecil's inspiring leadership and the valiant devotion to duty of his command contributed in large measure to the outstanding success of these vital missions and reflect great credit upon the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 319 (October 1943) Action Date: July 5 & 6, 1943 Service: Navy Rank: Captain Company: Commanding Officer Division: U.S.S. Helena (CL-50)
Other Memories Subsequent to the sinking of Helena, Admiral Cecil reported for duty as Commander, Seventh Amphibious Force (Group 2). He was killed in the crash of a Navy Air Transport Service PB2Y Coronado flying boat taking off from Funafuti Atoll in the Ellice Islands (now known as Tuvalu) on 31 July 1944.
