World War II Honoree

Charles Anderson 'Charlie' Owen

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

LEFT COLLEGE TO ENLIST IN THE NAVY ON DECEMBER 8, 1941, THE DAY FOLLOWING THE JAPANESE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII. ASSIGNED AS PART OF THE ORIGINAL CREW (PLANK OWNER MEMBER) TO THE NEWLY COMMISSIONED SEAPLANE TENDER USS CHANDELEUR AV-10. SERVED ABOARD THE 'CHANDY-LOU' AS STOREKEEPER IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER UNTIL THE END OF THE WAR. FROM JANUARY 15 TO MAY 9, 1943, SUPPORTED SOUTH PACIFIC BASES AND OPERATIONS BY CARRYING CARGO FROM SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA TO EFATE, ESPIRITU SANTO, SAMOA AND NOUMEA. OPERATED AT PEARL HARBOR, MIDWAY AND WALLIS IN JUNE 1943. PROVIDED TENDER SERVICES FOR PATROL SQUADRON 71 AT ESPIRITU SANTO FROM JULY 1 TO OCTOBER 13, 1943. THEN CARRIED MEN AND AVIATION EQUIPMENT BETWEEN THE NEW HEBRIDES ISLANDS AND GUADALCANAL. SERVED AT KWAJALEIN AND ENIWETOK ATOLLS AND SAIPAN BEGINNING JUNE 21, 1944 TENDING PATROL SQUADRONS 202 AND 216 IN SUPPORT OF THE INVASION OF THE PALAU ISLANDS. IN SEPTEMBER 1944, OPERATED AT KOSSOL ROADS TENDING SEAPLANES SUPPORTING THE INVASION OF THE PHILIPPINES. OPERATED FROM ULITHI FROM DECEMBER 25 TO FEBRUARY 8, 1945 PROVIDING TENDER SUPPORT TO PATROL SQUADRON 21. SERVED AT KERAMA RETTO BEGINNING MARCH 28, 1944 SUPPORTING THE INVASION OF OKINAWA AND ON JULY 15, MOVED FORWARD TO OKINAWA TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS AGAINST THE JAPANESE HOME ISLANDS. AFTER THE JAPANESE SURRENDER, SERVED AT HONSHU, JAPAN UNTIL OCTOBER 16, 1945 TO SUPPORT THE OCCUPATION OF JAPAN. THEN TRANSPORTED RETURNING SERVICEMEN FROM THE PHILIPPINES TO SEATTLE, WASHINGTON. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND AWARDED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.