Charles Allen Buchanan – Rear Admiral, United States Navy

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From a contemporary press report:

Charles Allen Buchanan, 96, a retired rear admiral who commanded a destroyer division and squadron during the Iwo Jima and Okinawa campaigns of World War II and retired in 1964 as commander of the naval district in Hawaii, died of respiratory failure April 3, 2001, at Ginger Cove Health Center in Annapolis, Maryland.

He was operations officer and assistant chief of staff for an amphibious task force that landed in Sicily and Salerno, Southern Italy, and in the Marshall Islands and Guam during WWII. After the war, he became an aide to James Forrestal, the Navy secretary who was the first secretary of defense.

Admiral Buchanan was an operations officer in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean, commanded the USS Worcester and was commandant at the U.S. Naval Academy in the early 1950s. He commanded a destroyer squadron in the Far East and was commander of the naval base at Newport, R.I. In Hawaii, he coordinated completion of the USS Arizona-Pearl Harbor Memorial.

Admiral Buchanan was a native of Brookville, Indiana, and a graduate of the Naval Academy.

His honors included the Navy Cross, two awards of the Legion of Merit and a Bronze Star.

He was a member of the Society of Colonial Wars, Naval Academy Alumni Association and Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Potomac.

His wife, Kathleen Thompson Buchanan, died in 1992.

Survivors include four children, Mary Gale Buchanan of Annapolis, Charles Allen Buchanan Jr. of Lisbon, John Goodwin Buchanan of Virginia Beach and Kathleen Buchanan-Lee of Potomac; four grandchildren; and a great-grandson.

Retired Navy Rear Adm. Charles Allen Buchanan, 96, winner of the Navy Cross for heroism during World War II and a former commandant of midshipmen at the Naval Academy, died of respiratory failure April 3,2001, at the Ginger Cove Health Care Center in Annapolis.

Born October 28, 1904, in Brookville, Indiana, Admiral Buchanan was a graduate of the Naval Academy and was married to Kathleen Thompson of Coronado, Calif., who died in 1992. His 38-year Navy career took him and his family all over the world.

A veteran of both Pacific and Atlantic operations during World War II, he took part in landings in Sicily and Salerno, Italy, in the Mediterranean and the Marshall Islands and Guam in the Pacific.  He was commander of Destroyer Division 126 and Destroyer Squadron 63 and participated in the Iwo Jima and Okinawa campaigns for which he was awarded the Navy Cross.

In 1947, he was an aide to James V. Forrestal, the nation's first secretary of defense. After a tour of duty at the Naval War College, he served on the staff of the commander of Naval Forces in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean, then commanded the USS Worcester.

From 1952 to 1954 he was commandant of midshipmen. He served as commander of Naval District 14 at Pearl Harbor, where he coordinated the completion and dedication of the USS Arizona-Pearl Harbor Memorial. He retired in 1964.

Also among his decorations were two awards of the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star with Gold Star and Combat “V” and the Silver Lifesaving Medal.

Surviving are four children, Mary Gale Buchanan of Annapolis, Charles Allen Buchanan Jr. of Lisbon, Portugal, John Goodwin Buchanan of Virginia Beach, Va., and Kathleen Buchanan-Lee of Potomac; four grandchildren; and one greatgrandson.

Services will be at 12:45 p.m. April 30 at the Fort Myer Memorial Chapel, following by burial in Arlington National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Naval Academy Foundation, Athletic and Scholarship Programs, 25 Maryland Ave., Annapolis, MD 21401, or the Ginger Cove Health Center Employee Appreciation Fund, 4000 River Crescent Drive, Annapolis, MD 21401.

Oct. 28, 1904-April 3, 2001

Retired Navy Rear Adm. Charles Allen Buchanan, 96, of Annapolis, Md., died April 3. He was born in Brookville, Ind., and served in the Navy for 38 years. He was a veteran of World War II. He was a former resident of Coronado.

Survivors include his daughters, Mary Gale Buchanan of Annapolis and Kathleen Buchanan-Lee of Potomac, Md.; sons, Charles Allen Buchanan Jr. of Lisbon and John Goodwin Buchanan of Virginia Beach, Va.; four grandchildren; and one  great-grandson.

Services: 12:45 p.m. Monday, Fort Myer Memorial Chapel, followed by interment with military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.

Donations: Naval Academy Foundation, Athletic and Scholarship Programs, 25 Maryland Ave., Annapolis, MD 21401 or Ginger Cove Health Center Employee Appreciation Fund, 4000 River Crescent Drive, Annapolis, MD 21401.

BUCHANAN, CHARLES ALLEN

 On Tuesday, April 3, 2001. Services followed by interment will be held on Monday, April, 30 at New Memorial Chapel, Fort Myer at Arlington Cemetery, Arlington, VA at 12:45 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to The Naval Academy Foundation Scholarship Programs, 25 Maryland Ave., Annapolis, MD, 21401.

BUCHANAN, CHARLES A
RADM   US NAVY

  • VETERAN SERVICE DATES: 08/01/1947 – 08/01/1967
  • DATE OF BIRTH: 10/28/1904
  • DATE OF DEATH: 04/03/2001
  • DATE OF INTERMENT: 04/30/2001
  • BURIED AT: SECTION 9  SITE 5847 EH
    ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

BUCHANAN, KATHLEEN THOMPSON

  • DATE OF BIRTH: 08/25/1910
  • DATE OF DEATH: 08/13/1992
  • DATE OF INTERMENT: 08/19/1992
  • BURIED AT: SECTION 9  SITE 5847
  • ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
    WIFE OF CA BUCHANAN, RADM, USN

BUCHANAN, ALLAN
United States Navy

  • VETERAN SERVICE DATES: Unknown
  • DATE OF DEATH: 01/12/1940
  • DATE OF INTERMENT: 01/16/1940
  • BURIED AT: SECTION 9  SITE 5845
  • ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

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