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Home Town Oakland, CA
Date of Passing Aug 04, 2005
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CDR CHARLES ALDEN BLACK, Sr.
US Navy, WWII and Korea
Awarded the Silver Star
Charles Alden Black, born in Oakland on March 6, 1919, was a businessman and maritime expert, as well as the husband of former child star Shirley Temple Black.
Charles Black was the son of James Byers Black (1890-1965) and Katherine McElrath (1899-1984) of San Francisco, CA; grandson of John Edgar McElrath (1844-1907) and Elsie Ann Alden (1845-1936) of Oakland, and great-grandson of Solomon E. Alden.
Black attended Stanford University, where he earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees in Business. During World War II, he served as a naval intelligence officer in the southwest Pacific, first in Australia on Gen. Douglas MacArthur's staff, then with the 7th Fleet squadrons of motor torpedo boats. He was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action.During the Korean War, he was recalled to serve in naval intelligence in Washington, D.C., returning to the reserves in 1952 with the rank of commander. Black also served as a regent for Santa Clara University and helped established a youth charity.
Shirley Temple and Charles Black met in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1950, where Black had been working for a shipping company and got married that same year. Together they had two children: a son, Charles Jr.; a daughter, Lori, as well as raising Shirley Temple's daughter Susan, from her first marriage to John Agar.
The couple moved from Hawaii back to California, where Black started a fishing and hatchery company and worked as a consultant on maritime issues. He also served on a Commerce Department advisory committee as well as various national Research Council panels.
Black co-founded a Massachusetts-based company that developed unmanned deep-ocean search and survey imaging systems.
Charles Black died in 2005 at the age of 86 from complications of a bone marrow disease.
Other Comments:
Mr. Black was born in Oakland -- he descended from John Alden, one of the Mayflower pilgrims, and the Cherokee Indian chief Oconostota, his family said. He was raised in San Francisco, educated at the Hotchkiss School in Connecticut, and got his bachelor's degree from Stanford University in three years. He joined the Navy in 1941, and as an intelligence officer in the Pacific made more than 100 PT boat patrols. He also served as a scout behind enemy lines in Indonesia. Among several medals, he was awarded the Silver Star, one of the nation's highest for valor.
After the war, Mr. Black moved to Tahiti and, indulging his lifelong love of the sea, eventually sailed a small boat back to the United States over 7, 000 miles of ocean. During the Korean War, he was recalled to serve in naval intelligence in Washington, D.C., returning to the reserves in 1952 with the rank of commander.
1937-1940, Stanford University
FromYear 1937
ToYear 1940
College Stanford University
Major Bachelor's and master's degrees in Business.
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Stanford University Details
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Last Updated:Feb 12, 2014
Personal Memories
Other Memories Black attended Stanford University, where he earned both his bachelor's (1937-1940) and master's degrees (MBA 1945-1946) in Business. During World Ward II, he served as a naval intelligence officer in the Pacific theater, earning a Silver Star and other honors. Black also served as a regent for Santa Clara University and helped established a youth charity.
