This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Tommy Burgdorf (Birddog), FC2
to remember
Cecil, Charles Purcell, RADM.
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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)
(DD-835: dp. 2,425; l. 390'6"; b. 41'1"; dr. 18'6"; s. 35 k.; cpl. 367; a. 6 5", 5 21"tt., 6 dcp., 2 dct.; cl. Gearing)
Charles Purcell Cecil was born in Louisville, Ky., 4 September 1893. He graduated from the Naval Academy and was commissioned ensign in 1916. His extraordinary heroism in World War II, first as commander of Destroyer Division 5 in the Battle of Santa Cruz 26 October 1942, and later as commanding officer of Helena (CL-50) in hazardous mine laying and shore bombardment off Kolombaranga 13 May 1943 and in the Battle of Kula Gulf 5-6 July 1943 were recognized with the Navy Cross, a Gold Star in lieu of a second Navy Cross, and the Bronze Star. Rear Admiral Cecil was killed in an airplane crash in the Pacific 31 July 1944.
Charles P. Cecil (DD-835) was launched 22 April 1945 by Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine; sponsored by Mrs. C. P. Cecil; and commissioned 29 June 1945, Commander W. Outerson in command.
Charles P. Cecil arrived at San Diego, her home port, 20 November 1945, and almost at once sailed on a tour of Pacific duty which found her operating as part of Joint Task Force One in the atomic bomb tests at Bikini, as well as supporting occupation forces with operations in Japanese waters. She returned to San Diego 9 August 1946, and took part in exercises off the west coast until 26 August 1947, when she cleared for her second deployment to the Far East. She touched at many Pacific islands as well as calling at ports in China, Japan and Okinawa before her return to San Diego 5 May 1948.
Reclassified DDR-835 18 March 1949, Charles P. Cecil left San Diego astern 4 April 1949, bound for Newport, R.I., and assignment to the Atlantic Fleet. First from Newport, and from December 1950, from Norfolk, Va., Charles P. Cecil operated through I960 with the Atlantic Fleet, taking part in midshipmen training cruises, periodic deployments to the Mediterranean, and the overhauls and refresher training necessary to maintain her readiness. She participated in a long list of North Atlantic Treaty Organization operations, in waters ranging from those north of the Arctic Circle to the Mediterranean. Her tours of duty with 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean included one which coincided with the Suez Crisis of fall 1956, during which she took up watchful patrol in the eastern Mediterranean.
From January 1959, when she was fitted with highly complex electronic computational and tracking equipment, Charles P. Cecil concentrated on air defense experiments and exercises, contributing to the development of advanced techniques. Her training, however, continued to include the areas such as antisubmarine warfare and amphibious operations required of the versatile destroyer.
