This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Eugene Claude Ipox, Jr., TM1
to remember
Caulfield, Frank Kenneth, PO1 USN(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town Philadelphia
Last Address High Point, NC
Date of Passing Oct 30, 2011
Location of Interment Oakwood Memorial Park - High Point, North Carolina
Frank Kenneth Caulfield, age 88, formally of Fair Oaks Lane, High Point, NC, passed away Sunday, October 30, 2011 at the Hospice Home in High Point.
He was born December 20, 1922 in Philadelphia, PA to James and Laura Bell Riley. Frank was educated in the Philadelphia public and Catholic school system, including John Bartram High School. He married Irene Joan Granata on May 1, 1948 and together they had four children. He was a member of Christ the King Catholic Church in High Point, NC.
Frank proudly served the United States Navy for 24 years, retiring from active duty on April 26, 1967. Frank and his family lived all across the United States including Oahu, Hawaii and Key West, FL. During his service career, he served on USS submarines: ODAX, SEA POACHER, BASS, CATFISH, CORPORAL, TANG, BLUEGILL, and the nuclear submarine the SSBN SAM RAYBURN. He also served aboard the USS TINSMAN, a destroyer escort and was a recruiting officer for 2 years. During his service he was awarded the American Theater Ribbon, Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon (1 Star), Philippine Liberation Ribbon (1 Star), Good Conduct Ribbon (Silver Star), Victory Medal WWII, Navy Occupation Service Medal with Europe Clasp, and the National Defense Service (Bronze Star).
After his career in the Navy, Frank was a member of the Fleet Reserve. He and his family moved to High Point, NC where he became the Food Service Director of High Point College (High Point University). He joined VFW Post 219 and Submarine Veterans – Tarheel Branch and on January 1, 2006, was awarded membership into the Holland Club for being qualified in submarines for more than 50 years. Frank retired from High Point College after 18 years.
Frank was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter Mary Ann Caulfield, his beloved wife of 62 years, 2 brothers, Roger and Larry Caulfield and a sister, Dorothy Caulfield McLaughlin. He leaves to cherish his memory, daughter Adele Schiller and her husband, Ed of St. Charles, MO, sons Brian Caulfield and his wife, Rayma of High Point, NC and Kevin Caulfield of Burgaw, NC, seven grandchildren: Briana Ernsting and her husband James, Jenny Speck, Allison Schiller, Katie Caulfield, Riley Caulfield and his wife, Lauren, Brian Patrick Caulfield and Erin Schiller, 3 great grandchildren: Rachel Speck, Gunnar Ernsting, and Savannah Caulfield. He is also survived by a brother, James Caulfield of Margate NJ and a sister, Helen Caulfield Stecklair of Springfield, PA.
The family would like to give a special thanks to the staff at Hospice Home of High Point for their compassionate and loving care of Pop. You are truly an outstanding group of individuals. Pop found a new friend in Malcolm, his Hospice Volunteer.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until the hour of the service. A funeral service will be held Wednesday at 11:30 am in Sechrest Funeral Chapel with the Reverend Father Gnanapragasam Mariasoosai officiating. Entombment with full military honors will follow the service in Oakwood Memorial Park Mausoleum.
Memorials may be directed to Hospice of the Piedmont, 1801 Westchester Drive, High Point, NC 27262. Please offer condolences with the family at their website www.sechrestfunerals.com.
Catfish was launched 19 November 1944 by Electric Boat Co., Groton, Conn.; sponsored by Mrs. J. J. Crowley; and commissioned 19 March 1945, Lieutenant Commander W. A. Overton, USNR, in command.
Catfish sailed from New London 4 May 1945 for Pearl Harbor, arriving 29 June. After training and the installation of new equipment, she proceeded to Guam for special training, then departed 8 August on her first war patrol, a special mission to locate a minefield off Kyūshū. When the cease-fire order was given 15 August, she was ordered to the Yellow Sea for surface patrol and lifeguard duty. She returned to Guam 4 September, thence to the West Coast, arriving at Seattle 29 September.
Based at San Diego, Catfish operated locally on the west coast and made two cruises to the Far East during which she conducted simulated war patrols and provided services to the Seventh Fleet.
Catfish was extensively modernized in a GUPPY II conversion (August 1948–May 1949), giving her greater submerged speed and endurance. She was on another Far Eastern cruise when war broke out in Korea in which area she made a reconnaissance patrol in support of the United Nations forces. Catfish returned to the States 20 October 1950 and was based in San Diego.
After that the submarine carried out training exercises with Naval Reservists off the west coast, operated with the Canadian Forces in joint antisubmarine warfare exercises, and made several cruises to the Far East.
Other Memories After that the submarine carried out training exercises with Naval Reservists off the west coast, operated with the Canadian Forces in joint antisubmarine warfare exercises, and made several cruises to the Far East.
