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Contact Info
Home Town Baltimore, MD
Last Address Severna Park, Anne Arundel County, Maryland.
Date of Passing Jun 21, 2011
Location of Interment U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery and Columbarium (VLM) - Annapolis, Maryland
Ensign Coulter's first assignment was on the battleship USS Pennsylvania and he later served as an Engineer aboard the destroyer-minesweeper USS Perry. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, he was serving aboard the destroyer USS Alden in waters off the Philippines and Indonesia. While on the Alden, Coulter was promoted to Lieutenant and served as Engineering Officer. In February 1942, the Alden participated in the seven-hour Battle of the Java Sea, where the Japanese Imperial Navy sank five Allied ships and defeated the Allied fleet. Luckily for Coulter, the Aiden was one of the few ships that survived the Battle.
In late 1942, Coulter's request to join the submarine service was granted and he was assigned to the Navy Submarine School in New London, CT. Upon graduation, he joined the crew of the submarine USS Skipjack in the Pacific Theatre during five War Patrols. During his 42 months aboard the Skipjack, he served as Torpedo and Gunnery Officer and later, as Executive Officer. In March 1944, he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander and assumed command of the Skipjack, a position he held for 20 months.
The Skipjack was decommissioned and became a target ship as part of the Operation Crossroads atom bomb tests at Bikini Atoll in 1946. Skipjack survived the first atomic explosion, which was 500 feet above the boat. The second blast was detonated underwater and sunk the Skipjack and seven other vessels. Coulter and others in his crew were allowed to observe the sinking.
Coulter later commanded the submarine USS Bugara before he was assigned to the U.S. Naval Academy, where he was a Battalion Officer and Leadership Instructor.
During his naval career, he served as commanding officer of two submarines and four surface ships. He was also Commanding Officer of the U.S. Naval Advisory Group in Korea, where he served from 1963-65. Captain Coulter retired from active duty in 1969, following a tour as Director of Navy Recruiting in New York and New England. Over his 30-year career, he served either abroad, or aboard ship, for nearly 15 years.
Description The Battle of the Java Sea was a decisive naval battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II.
Allied navies suffered a disastrous defeat at the hand of the Imperial Japanese Navy, on 27 February 1942, and in secondary actions over successive days. The American-British-Dutch-Australian Command (ABDA) Strike Force commander—Rear-Admiral Karel Doorman—was killed. The aftermath of the battle included several smaller actions around Java, including the smaller but also significant Battle of Sunda Strait. These defeats led to Japanese occupation of the entire Netherlands East Indies.
The battle was the largest surface ship engagement since the Battle of Jutland in 1916.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
February / 1942
To Month/Year
February / 1942
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
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Promoted to lieutenant and serving as engineering officer on the Alden, Captain Coulter participated in the Battle of the Java Sea in February 1942, when the Japanese Imperial Navy defeated an allied fleet.
