Charles Cochran Kirkpatrick

Rear Admiral, U. S. Navy

Distinguished Service Cross and Navy Cross with Two Gold Stars

RAdm. Charles Cochran Kirkpatrick USN (Ret.) enlisted in the Navy in 1926 and in competitive examination won an appointment to the Naval Academy, graduating with the Class of 1931. After serving two years in on battleship PENNSYLVANIA he was ordered to Submarine School in New London, and on completion of the course was assigned to the submarine CUTTLEFISH. He was then ordered to the submarine 0-4 based at Coco Solo, Canal Zone, and in 1938 to the Executive Department of the Naval Academy. In 1939 he returned to sea duty as Aide and Flag Lieutenant to ComDesBatFor, after which he was appointed to command of the submarine TRITON in 1942, In TRITON he made three successful war patrols, sinking ten Japanese ships for a total of 44,000 tons. He was awarded a Navy Cross for each of these three patrols.
His next assignment, in 1943. was that of Aide and Flag Lieutenant to Admiral King, Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Fleet: then in 1944 he was ordered to command of the new minesweeper SHEA. On the picket line at Okinawa, SHEA fought off attacking Japanese aircraft, but was hit by a Baka bomb that killed 75 of her crew and severely damaged the ship. His post-war assignments were: Executive Officer of the battleship WISCONSIN; Associate Professor of Naval Science at the University of Colorado; Com- SubDiv-81; Fleet Plans Officer on the Staff of CinCLantFIt: Director of Plans, Staff of SACLANT; ComSubRon Two; Staff of the Chairman, JCS, and in 1956, command of the cruiser BREMERTON. In this last duty assignment he was selected for promotion to rear admiral. His flag rank billets were: Chief of Staff, U.S. Taiwan Defense Command (1956-57); Chief of Information (1957-60; ComPhibGroup One (1960-61); Commander Training Command, U.S. Pacific Fleet(1961-62); and Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy (1961-64). While in this latter post he received Orders as Chief of Naval Personnel with the rank of vice admiral, but before he could act on them a heart attack necessitated his retirement from active duty.
His awards and decorations included the Navy Cross (three awards), the Distinguished Service Medal, the Distinguished Service Cross (U.S. Army), the Legion of Merit, the Silver Star Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, the Navy Unit Commendation, and campaign Medals. In retirement he made his home first in Florida, then in Kerrville, Texas, He is survived by his wife, Lalla Branch Kirkpatrick of 203 Lakewood Drive, Riverhill, Kerrville, Texas; by two daughters. Patty Woerner of Chicago, and Shelley Petersen of Spring- field, Virginia; and by five grandchildren. He died while hospitalized in Kerrville, Texas. Memorial services were held in Kerrville, and in the Chapel of the U.S. Naval Academy on 22 March, followed by interment of his ashes in the Naval Academy Cemetery with full military honors.

GENERAL ORDERS:
Headquarters, South West Pacific Area, General Orders No. 16 (February 9, 1943)
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Lieutenant Commander Charles Cochran Kirkpatrick (NSN: 0-70146/1100), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Commanding Officer, U.S.S. TRITON (SS-201), in action near Wewak, New Guinea, on 26 January 1943. When an enemy convoy, under escort was proceeding toward Wewak, New Guinea, apparently with the intention of landing supplies and reinforcing the enemy defenses in that area, Lieutenant Commander Kirkpatrick, commanding the U.S.S. TRITON, attacked the convoy. During this action, he sank one hostile cargo vessel and damaged and probably sank another, contributing notably to the success of operations in New Guinea.

GENERAL ORDERS:
Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 317 (August 1943)
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Charles Cochran Kirkpatrick (NSN: 0-70146/1100), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. TRITON (SS-201), on the THIRD War Patrol of that submarine during the period 13 April 1942 through 14 June 1942, in close proximity to enemy controlled shores. In the face of heavy enemy opposition, TRITON delivered a deliberately planned and decisively executed attack with the result that one enemy Japanese submarine of 1,635 tons, and six enemy merchant ships totaling 22,593 tons were sunk. Lieutenant Commander Kirkpatrick so skillfully maneuvered his vessel as to escape enemy depth charges on three separate occasions and completed his patrol mission without injury to his own personnel or damage to material.

GENERAL ORDERS:
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Charles Cochran Kirkpatrick (NSN: 0-70146/1100), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. TRITON (SS-201), on the FOURTH War Patrol of that submarine during the period 25 June 1942 to 7 September 1942, in enemy controlled waters of Southwest Pacific. Despite severe weather conditions, Lieutenant Commander Kirkpatrick pressed home every favorable opportunity for attack against the enemy and by expert maneuvering and daring skill enabled the TRITON and her gallant crew to sink one enemy destroyer of 1,368 tons and one destroyer leader of 1,700 tons. Lieutenant Commander Kirkpatrick's fine seamanship and indomitable fighting spirit were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

GENERAL ORDERS:
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Charles Cochran Kirkpatrick (NSN: 0-70146/1100), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and outstanding courage in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. TRITON (SS-201), on the FIFTH War Patrol of that submarine during the period 16 December 1942 to 26 January 1943, in enemy controlled waters of the Pacific War Area. Availing himself of every favorable attack opportunity, Lieutenant Commander Kirkpatrick boldly struck at the enemy, sinking one medium freighter-tanker and two medium cargo vessels, a total of 17,340 tons, damaging and probably sinking another medium cargo vessel of 4,000 tons and damaging a large tanker of 10,200 tons. Utilizing the TRITON as a radio station during an operation on 23 December 1942, he assisted in the aerial bombardment of Wake Island by casting a radio beam to direct the attack. The superb seamanship and skill evidenced by Lieutenant Commander Kirkpatrick during this period are a continuation of his illustrious combat record, sustaining and enhancing the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service.