Walter Charles Ansel
Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy

Walter Charles Ansel was born on 25 August 1897 in Elgin, IL. He graduated from Elgin High School in 1915 and entered the U.S. Naval Academy where he graduated with the Class of 1918 and was commissioned as an Ensign in the Navy.

During World War I, he served on the patrol craft USS Rambler, which engaged in anti-submarine operations off the coast of France as well convoy-escort duty. After the war, he was assigned to Destroyer Escort Force out of Brest, France.

In 1930 he attended the Navy War College and, in 1931, he attended the Marine Corps Field Officer Course. At the time of World War II, Ansel was stationed at the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.

He was assigned as Commanding Officer of the newly-commissioned Fleet Oiler USS Winooski. After serving on the Winooski until 1942, Ansel was transferred to the staff of Commander Advance Group, Amphibious Force, Atlantic Fleet in the United Kingdom. This group became the Naval Port Support Group for the planned North Africa, Sicily and Southern France invasions. During the landings in Algeria in November of 1942, Ansel commanded the Advance Party which entered the small port of Arzeu in the wake of the assault units. The Advance Party secured the shipping and prepared the port for unloading operations. His next assignment was as Assistant Chief of Staff and Operations Officer on the staff of Commander, Amphibious Force, North African Waters.

In 1943, Ansel was assigned to command the Cruiser USS Philadelphia in the Mediterranean. In early 1944, the Philadelphia supported the operations at Anzio and Formia. In this operation Ansel, with Marines from the Philadelphia and the Cruiser USS Augusta, accepted the surrender of the German garrison in the fortress islands off Marseilles.

In late 1944, Ansel returned to duty in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. He returned to sea duty in 1946 as Chief of Staff, Support Group One, Japan. Upon completion of this assignment, he returned to the Office of the Secretary of the Navy and later served with the U.S. Naval Mission in Brazil. In 1949 Ansel retired from the Navy after 31+ years of service.

Medals and Awards

Legion of Merit (2 Awards)
Croix de Guerre with Silver Star (France)

In Retirement

After his retirement, Ansel turned to writing, publishing "Hitler Confronts England" and "Hitler and the Middle Sea." He died before his third book "Study of National Strategy and Policy of the U.S. and their Difference and Confusions" was published.

Death and Burial

Rear Admiral Walter Charles Ansel died on 26 November 1977. He is buried at the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, MD.