Service Photo |
Service Details |
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Last Rank
Commander
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Last Primary NEC
165X-Special Duty Officer - Public Affairs
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Last Rating/NEC Group
Restricted Line Officer
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Primary Unit
1976-1977, 165X, USCINCLANT
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Service Years
1953 - 1977
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Official/Unofficial US Navy Certificates
Cold War
Tailhook
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Last Photo |
Personal Details
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Home State
Florida | |
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Year of Birth 1935 |
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Contact Info
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Home Town Gainesville, FL |
Last Address 113 Gator Trail Melrose, FL 32666
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Date of Passing Jan 14, 2017 |
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Location of Interment Forest Meadows Memorial Park West - Newberry, Florida |
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Last Known Activity:
Charles Wesley Larson II, passed away on Saturday, January 14, 2017. He was born in Gainesville and a graduate of P.K. Yonge and the University of Florida. A 24 year career Naval Officer retiring with the rank of Commander.
He was preceded in death by his daughter Sarah Claire Larson, and is survived by his wife Sarah Gaskins Larson, two sons, Charles Wesley Larson III, and Kevin Lee Samuel Larson, six grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Funeral Services will be private. Arrangements by MILAM FUNERAL AND CREMATION SERVICES, 311 South Main Street, Gainesville, FL 32601,
(352) 376-5361.
Published in Gainesville Sun from Jan. 22 to Jan. 23, 2017
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/gainesville/obituary.aspx?pid=183679534
Executing "Honey Do" lists and looking for jobs around the house. Driving my John Deere lawn mower tractor around the woods and neighborhood. In short, not much.
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Other Comments:
Gainesville (FL) Area Chamber of Commerce September 1977 - September 1984
Kissimmee(FL) Chamber of Commerce September 1984 - May 1985
Putnam County (FL) Chamber of Commerce May 1985 - January 2010
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1953-1957, AN-0000, VS-741
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1957-1957, AN-0000, Officer Candidate School (OCS) (Faculty Staff)
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1957-1957, Bureau of Naval Personnel (BUPERS)
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1958-1959, USS Lake Champlain (CVS-39)
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1959-1960, Navy Recruiting Exhibit Center (NREC), Naval Reserve Recruiting Command (NRRC)
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1960-1961, Chief of US Navy Information (CHINFO), CNO - OPNAV
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1961-1963, CINCLANTFLT SOY, Commander, US Fleet Forces Command (COMUSFLTFORCOM)
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1963-1965, COMSECONDFLT
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1963-1965, USS Newport News (CA-148)
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1965-1965, USS Little Rock (CLG-4)
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1965-1966, Bureau of Naval Weapons Special Projects Office
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1966-1968, SEALAB II, Deep Submergence Systems Project (DSSP)
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1968-1969, Detachment . C, Saigon, RVN, COMSEVENTHFLT
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1971-1972, US-Taiwan Defense Command (USTDC)
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1972-1976, Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) (Staff)
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1976-1977, 165X, USCINCLANT
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Reflections on CDR Larson's
US Navy Service
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TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, WHAT INFLUENCED HIS/HER DECISION TO JOIN THE NAVY?
While I was in high school, one of our frequent basketball officials, Navy CPO Jack Piva, regularly suggested that players join the Naval Reserve unit based at NAS Jax. Since the draft also existed at this time, many of us figured as long as we were going to serve it might as well be in the Navy. Jack Piva enlisted a very large number of high school athletes as a result of his being an official in many sports.
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TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH HE/SHE TOOK IN HIS/HER MILITARY SERVICE. WHERE DID THEY GO TO BOOT CAMP AND WHAT UNITS, BASES, SHIPS OR SQUADRONS WERE THEY ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS HIS/HER REASON FOR LEAVING?
Following commissioning, I went through the Navy's Underwater Swimmers School and the reported to the carrier Lake Champlain. While assigned to that ship I became interested in the Navy's public information program. Subsequently, I was assigned to the U.S. Navy Exhibit Center and then as Head of the Exhibits Office in the Navy's Office of Information. Subsequently, I was media officer for CINCLANTFLT and then as PIO for the U.S. SECOND Fleet, home-ported in Norfolk, Va. This was followed by assignment as the Public Information Officer for the Polaris program and then the Deep Submergence Systems Project which included the SeaLab initiative. From that command, I went to the SEVENTH Fleet's information office in Saigon, South View Nam. Next was a year and a half in Madison, Wisconsin for a Master of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin. Than came an overseas tour with the U.S. Taiwan Defense Command in Taipei, Taiwan, which was then followed by my longest Navy tour, PAO for the Navy Education and Training Command in Pensacola, FL. When at NETC, we were responsible for playing a major role in the establishment of the Naval Aviation Museum. Next came final a final tour at the Atlantic Command in Norfolk, Va.
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FROM THEIR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY PERSONAL MEMORIES, YOU MAY BE AWARE OF, WHICH IMPACTED HIM/HER THE MOST.
It would not be possible to select just one major memory because there were several including being stationed in Taiwan when President Nixon made his historic foreign relations trip to mainland China. Also significant was serving with the SEALAB II aquanauts in their major event of living underwater for an extended period to time led by Commander Scott Carpenter's extended stay on the bottom. Also significant was serving as the on scene information officer in USS Fort Snelling for the search for the USS Threasher. This effort was punctuated by Russian "fishing trawlers" regularly moving through the search while the DRS Trieste was searching for trace of Treasher. Certainly, the return of the first POW's from North Vietnam to Clark AFB was absolutely the most emotional experience of my life. When Rear Admiral Jerimiah Denton stepped off the plane and gave his famous "God Bless America" remarks, there was not a dry eye anywhere on the tarmac at plane side. The entire first week of their return was a very emotional atmosphere. God's Holy Spirit was with these men as they went through the first days of their return. It was a blessing to have been a part of this experience.
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WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS DO YOU BELIEVE HE/SHE WAS MOST PROUD OF FROM HIS/HER MILITARY SERVICE?
While no medals or awards were received for Valor, several were presented for service in combat zones, the Dominican Republic Operation Power Pack and with the Seventh Fleet's detachment Charlie in Saigon, RVN.
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OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES HE/SHE RECEIVED, WHICH WERE THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO HIM/HER AND WHY?
The most meaningful award was the Navy Commendation Medal given for service with the Polaris program and the Deep Submergence Systems Project. This medal as given at a time in the Navy's history when Lieutenant Commander's did not receive medals.
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IF KNOWN, PLEASE LIST ANY INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM HIS/HER TIME IN THE MILITARY WHO STOOD OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON THEM AND WHY?
There was one but two individuals who had a major impact on me. One was Captain (Doctor) George Bond, MSC, who was the Principal Investigator for the Man In The Sea program and a pioneer in the field of underwater living and mixed gas diving a great depths. The other was Dr. John Craven who served as Chief Scientist for the Polaris and Deep Submergence Systems Project. Both men were "original" thinkers, that is that had ideas first and not gathered from others. I was forever impacted by them because it helped me see the importance of change and creativeness.
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ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM HIS/HER SERVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MADE THEM LAUGH LATER ON?
This incident occurred while embarked in USS Fort Snelling for the Threasher search. One of the news men and I were bunked together when one night we are attracted by little black bugs crawling on the deck in our room. We stomped on them only to discover they weren't bugs at all, but ballast bb's for the Trieste.
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IF HE/SHE SURVIVED MILITARY SERVICE, WHAT PROFESSION(S) DID HE/SHE FOLLOW AFTER DISCHARGE?
Following retirement from the Navy I began a 30 year long career in the Chamber of Commerce business. This career interest came about because of my exposure to Chamber's and their community activities during my Navy career and because much of what Chamber's do has direct relevance to my Navy skill set. I retired from that field in January 2010 after 33 years as a Chamber exec.
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IF KNOWN, WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS WAS HE OR SHE A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY SPECIFIC BENEFITS THEY DERIVED FROM THEIR MEMBERSHIPS?
I belong to the Navy Public Affairs Association, the American Legion, and the Military Officers Association. All allow me to stay somewhat ware of events that impact our military establishment.
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IF HE/SHE SURVIVED MILITARY SERVICE, IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU BELIEVE HIS/HER SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY THEY APPROACHED THEIR PERSONAL LIFE, FAMILY LIFE AND CAREER?
A career in the Navy how shaped the way I have approached problem solving in the private sector. The private sector places high importance on creative thinking, change, and being a catalyst for making things happen. These are the same skills that were developed in the Navy and honed by a wide variety of military experiences.
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IF THEY WERE HERE TODAY, WHAT ADVICE DO YOU THINK HE OR SHE WOULD GIVE TO THOSE WHO FOLLOWED IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS AND RECENTLY ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE?
I would suggest to all those still serving to hang in there and make a difference wherever you are serving. It's a full time profession and an opportunity to serve our country and make a difference in the pursuit of world peace.
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HOW EFFECTIVE HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM BEEN IN HELPING YOU RECORD YOUR REMEMBERED PERSONS MILITARY SERVICE? DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE?
| TWS and the US Navy |
I am a new member of TWS and have not had a chance to pursue bonds with former service members nor get acquainted with existing members of the association. DS 10/6/16
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