Charles A. Ott Jr.
Charles Adam Ott Jr. (September 26, 1920 – December 9, 2006) was a United States Army major general who served as commander of the 40th Armored Division and 40th Infantry Division, and director of the Army National Guard.
Charles A. Ott Jr. | |
|---|---|
Major General Charles A. Ott Jr. as Director of the Army National Guard, circa 1975 | |
| Born | September 26, 1920 Santa Barbara, California |
| Died | December 9, 2006 (aged 86) Santa Barbara, California |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1941–1978 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Unit | California Army National Guard Army National Guard |
| Commands held | 76th Field Artillery Battalion 981st Field Artillery Battalion 40th Infantry Division Artillery 40th Armored Division Artillery 40th Armored Division 40th Infantry Division California National Guard Southern Emergency Operations Center 79th Rear Area Operations Support Center Army National Guard |
| Battles/wars | World War II Korean War |
| Awards | Army Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal Air Medal Army Commendation Medal |
| Spouse(s) | Patricia Jane Parrish (m. 1943) |
| Children | 3 |
| Other work | President, Ott Hardware and other businesses Director, Arizona Division of Emergency Services |
Early life
Charles Adam Ott Jr. was born on September 26, 1920, in Santa Barbara, California, the son of Charles Adam Ott Sr. and Leona Elizabeth (Theote) Ott.[1][2] He attended the public schools of Santa Barbara and was a 1937 graduate of Santa Barbara High School.[3] Ott graduated from Stanford University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics in 1941 and was the Honor Graduate of his Reserve Officers' Training Corps class.[4]
World War II
Commissioned as a second lieutenant of artillery, Ott completed the Artillery Officer Basic Course in 1941, the Artillery Officer Advanced Course in 1942, and the United States Army Command and General Staff College in 1943.[5]
Ott served in Europe during the war, first with the 76th Field Artillery Battalion, including assignments as battery commander, battalion operations and training officer (S-3), executive officer, and commander. He later served as operations and training officer for the 18th Field Artillery Group, and carried out an assignment in California on the staff of the Sixth United States Army. He was a lieutenant colonel when he was discharged in 1946.[6]
Interbellum
After the war, Ott returned to Santa Barbara and pursued a business career as an executive of his family's business, Ott Hardware, and he became the company's president upon the retirement of his father. He also served as president of Sterling Supply Corporation and Channel Properties, Incorporated.[7][8]
Ott continued his military career with the California Army National Guard as commander of the 981st Field Artillery Battalion.[9]
Korean War
In 1950, Ott was called to federal service with the 40th Infantry Division for the Korean War. He served as commander of the division artillery, and received promotion to colonel.[10]
Senior command
In 1952, Ott was promoted to brigadier general as commander of the 40th Armored Division Artillery.[11]
Ott was assigned as assistant division commander of the 40th Armored Division in 1958.[12] In 1960, he was promoted to major general and assigned as commander of the 40th Armored Division.[13] In August, 1965, Ott commanded the division when it was activated in response to the Watts Riots.[14][15]
Ott also served as commander of the California National Guard's Southern Emergency Operations Center and commander of the 79th Rear Area Operations Support Center.[16][17]
In 1969 he commanded National Guard members activated in response to flooding in Santa Barbara County and other areas of Southern California.[18][19]
In 1971, he was named deputy commander of the California National Guard, and in January 1974, he received appointment as commander of the 40th Infantry Division.[13]
In 1974, Ott was appointed director of the Army National Guard, serving until his 1978 retirement.[20]
Ott's awards included the Army Distinguished Service Medal,[21] Legion of Merit,[22] Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal, and Army Commendation Medal.[23]
Later career
After retiring from the military, Ott served as director of the Arizona Division of Emergency Services.[24]
Ott died at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital on December 9, 2006.[25][26][27] He is buried at Santa Barbara Cemetery, Summit Lot 683, Grave 03.[28]
Family
In February 1943, Ott married Patricia Jane Parrish.[29][30] They were the parents of three children—Lesley Jane, Chris, and Mila Lee.[29]
References
- ^ California Birth Index, 1905–1995, entry for Charles A. Ott Jr.
- ^ U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology (1981). Emergency Management Information and Technology: Hearings Before the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office. p. 184 – via Google Books.
- ^ Putz, Tim (March 14, 2013). "Five Santa Barbara High School Alumni to Join 'Wall of Fame'". Noozhawk. Santa Barbara, CA.
- ^ California Adjutant General, Biennial Report, 1952, page 29
- ^ United States House Committee on Science and Technology, Hearing Record, Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight, Biographical sketch, Charles A. Ott Jr., 1981, page 183
- ^ United States House Committee on Appropriations, Hearing Record, Military Construction Appropriations for 1978, Biographical sketch, Charles A. Ott Jr., 1977, page 259
- ^ Telephone Engineer Publishing Corporation, Telephone Engineer & Management, Volume 66, 1962, page 34
- ^ David Williams Company, Hardware Age, Volume 167, Issues 1–6, 1951, page 170
- ^ Los Angeles Times, 40th Infantry Division's Reorganization to Start, September 2, 1952
- ^ National Guard Association of the United States, Official Proceedings, Volumes 93–96, 1971, 214
- ^ Corona Daily Independent, Col. C.A. Ott Guard General, September 3, 1952
- ^ California Adjutant General, Biennial Report, 1958, page 99
- ^ a b National Guard Bureau, General officers of the Army and Air National Guard, Volume 1, 1972, entry for Charles A. Ott Jr.
- ^ Gerald Horne, Fire this Time: The Watts Uprising and the 1960s, 1995, page 162
- ^ Jerry Cohen, William Sarsfield Murphy, Burn, Baby, Burn!: The Los Angeles Race Riot, August, 1965, 1966, page 166
- ^ California Secretary of State, California Roster of State, Federal and County Officials, 1958, page 43
- ^ National Guard Association of the United States, The National Guardsman, Volumes 24–25, 1970, page 34
- ^ United Press International, Ben Bulletin, Flooding Maroons Hundreds in Rain-Soaked California, January 27, 1969
- ^ U.S. House Public Works Committee, Hearing Record, Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments, 1969, page 34
- ^ National Guard Association of the United States, The Guardsman, Volume 32, Issues 7–10, 1978, page 68
- ^ Army DSM [1]
- ^ LOM {https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/144071}
- ^ Marquis Who's Who, Who's Who in the West, 1982–1983, Volume 18, 1982, page 561
- ^ Arizona Information Press, The Arizona Yearbook, 1981, page 38
- ^ Santa Barbara News-Press, Death notice, Charles A. Ott Jr., December 12, 2006
- ^ Santa Barbara News-Press, Death notice (second), Charles A. Ott Jr. Archived 2013-06-16 at archive.today, December 16, 2006
- ^ Social Security Death Index, entry for Charles A. Ott Jr., accessed May 22, 2013
- ^ Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society, Cemetery records, entry for Charles A. Ott Jr., accessed May 23, 2013
- ^ a b 40th Infantry Division (September 1, 2000). Dedication of 40th Infantry Division Korean War Memorial (PDF). Anaheim, CA: Burnett Engraving. p. 4.
- ^ "Mrs. Ott In South". Oakland Tribune. Oakland, CA. May 4, 1943. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
External links
- at
- Charles A. Ott Jr. at Find a Grave