Hartigan, Charles Conway, RADM

HARTIGAN, CHARLES CONWAY

Rank and organization: Lieutenant, U.S. Navy. Born: 13 September 1882, Norwich, New York. Accredited to: New York. G.O. No.: 177, 4 December 1915.

Citation:
For distinguished conduct in battle, engagement of Vera Cruz, 22 April 1914. During the second day's fighting the service performed by him was eminent and conspicuous. He was conspicuous for the skillful handling of his company under heavy rifle and machinegun fire, for which conduct he was commended by his battalion commander.

 In an effort to force out General Victoriano Huerta, who had seized the presidency of Mexico in a bloody coup d' etat, President Woodrow Wilson sent three Navy vessels to Vera Cruz under the command of Rear Admiral Frank Friday Fletcher. On the morning of April 21 nearly 1,500 American combat troops were put ashore, and that night another 1,500 reinforcements landed. By noon on April 22nd the American forces had taken control of the city. In the two day action Fletcher lost 17 men killed, 63 wounded. The Mexicans had nearly 800 dead or wounded. Lieutenant Charles Hartigan was conspicuous for his courageous leadership of a company of the ground forces during the second day of battle, where he remained at the forefront of the fighting despite heavy enemy rifle and machinegun fire.

Though the United States occupied Vera Cruz for seven months following the initial landing, the men who landed at Vera Cruz on April 21 - 22 accomplished their mission in two days, and returned to their vessels within the same week. 

He served in the Mexican Campaign in 1913; commanded the USS Cassin (destroyer), June 1918-March 1919; was a member of the U.S. Naval Mission to Brazil, 1919-21 and 1927-29; commanded Destroyer Division 2 (USS Isherwood, flagship), 1927-29; U.S. Naval Attache, Peking, China, 1929-32; commanded USS Relief, 1932-34; served in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, 1934-35; at the Naval War College, 1936-37; commanded the USS Oklahoma, 1937-39; Office of the CNO again in 1939-41.

He retired from the Navy in July 1941 and resided in Edgewater, Maryland, until his death on February 25, 1944. He was buried in Section 3 of Arlington National Cemetery.