Charles Conway Hartigan (September 13, 1882 – February 25, 1944) was born in Middletown, New York and died in Palo Alto, California.[2][3] He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1906.[4]
He received the Medal of Honor for actions at the United States occupation of Veracruz.[5][6] He was a veteran of World War I and commanded the ill-fated USS Oklahoma (BB-37) from 1937 to 1939.[7]
Biography
Hartigan was born in Middletown, New York on September 13, 1882 and raised in Norwich, New York.[1][8]
Hartigan was promoted to lieutenant on July 1, 1912. From 1913 to 1915, he served aboard the battleship South Carolina.[9]
Hartigan was promoted to lieutenant commander on July 1, 1917 and then received a temporary promotion to commander on July 1, 1918.[10] After the World War I armistice, he commanded the destroyer Cassin from January to April 1919.[11] His promotion to commander was made permanent on December 31, 1921.[12]
From 1929 to 1932, Hartigan served as naval attaché in Peiping, China.[2][8] He was promoted to captain on June 4, 1931.[13] Hartigan was given command of the hospital ship Relief from August 1932 to June 1934.[14] He attended the Naval War College before serving as commander of the battleship Oklahoma.[15]
Hartigan retired from active duty on June 30, 1941 and was advanced to rear admiral on the retired list.[16] After retirement, he continued to work at the Navy Department in Washington, D.C. until he suffered a heart attack on December 7, 1941.[2]
Hartigan suffered from ill health for the remainder of his life. In October 1943, he traveled to Palo Alto, California to aid his recuperation. He died there on February 25, 1944.[2][17] He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors on March 2, 1944.[3][18]
Medal of Honor citation
Rank: Lieutenant
Organization: U.S. Navy
Born: 9/13/1882, Middletown, NY
Accredited to: Norwich, NY
Date of issue: 12/04/1915
Citation
For distinguished conduct in battle, engagement of Vera Cruz, 22 April 1914. During the second day's fighting the service performed by him was eminent and conspicuous. He was conspicuous for the skillful handling of his company under heavy rifle and machinegun fire, for which conduct he was commended by his battalion commander.[19]
Family
On May 6, 1910, Hartigan married Margaret Alden Thompson (June 21, 1887 – May 15, 1974) in Benicia, California.[18][20] His wife's older sister was writer Kathleen Norris.[2]
Hartigan and his wife had a daughter and a son.[2] In 1933, their daughter Margaret Alden Hartigan married James Alexander Barclay Barton, the eldest son of British diplomat Sidney Barton.[21] Their son Charles Conway Hartigan Jr. (August 22, 1915 – May 26, 1978) was a 1938 Naval Academy graduate who retired from the Navy as a captain.[17][22] During World War II, he was serving as gunnery officer on the destroyer Hammann when she was sunk by a Japanese torpedo during the Battle of Midway and subsequently received a Silver Star for his actions.[23][24]
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients (Veracruz)
- List of United States Naval Academy alumni (Medal of Honor)
References
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.
- ^ a b The Lucky Bag. Annapolis, Maryland: U.S. Naval Academy. 1906. p. 96. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
- ^ a b c d e f "Rear Adm. C. C. Hartigan: Former Naval Attache in China Won Congressional Medal". The New York Times. February 26, 1944. p. 13. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
- ^ a b "Full Military Honors". Wilmington Press. Wilmington, Los Angeles, California. March 1, 1944. p. 5. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
- ^ "Medal of Honor recipients". United States Naval Academy. Archived from the original on 2013-12-17. Retrieved 2009-03-15.
- ^ "Mexican Campaign (Vera Cruz)". United States Army Center of Military History. Archived from the original on 2010-07-23. Retrieved 2009-03-15.
- ^ "Charles C. Hartigan". United States Naval Academy. Retrieved 2009-03-15.
- ^ "Charles Conway Hartigan". Arlington National Cemetery. Retrieved 2009-03-15.
- ^ a b Register of the Department of State. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. January 1, 1931. p. 163. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
- ^ Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. January 1, 1915. pp. 36–37. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
- ^ Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy, U.S. Naval Reserve Force and Marine Corps. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. January 1, 1919. p. 30. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
- ^ "USS Cassin (DD-43)". NavSource Naval History. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
- ^ Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. January 1, 1922. p. 24. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
- ^ Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. July 1, 1940. p. 18. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
- ^ "USS Relief (VI) (AH-1)". NavSource Naval History. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
- ^ Register of Officers 1884–1977. The United States Naval War College. 1977. p. 53. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
- ^ Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. July 1, 1942. p. 578. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
- ^ a b Register of Alumni: Graduates and Former Naval Cadets and Midshipmen. The United States Naval Academy Alumni Association, Inc. July 1, 1956. pp. 178, 352. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
- ^ a b "Burial detail: Hartigan, Charles C". ANC Explorer. Retrieved 2025-02-11.
- ^ "Lieutenant Hartigan, Charles Conway". Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Retrieved 2009-03-15.
- ^ "Births, Marriages and Deaths". Army and Navy Journal. Vol. XLVII, no. 37. May 14, 1910. p. 1112. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
- ^ "Margaret Hartigan Wed.: Becomes Bride of J. B. Barton, British Diplomat's Son". The New York Times. October 4, 1933. p. 20. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
- ^ "Burial detail: Hartigan, Charles C, Jr". ANC Explorer. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
- ^ Combat Narratives: Battle of Midway, June 3–6, 1942. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. 1943. p. 53. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
- ^ "Charles Conway Hartigan Jr". Hall of Valor. Military Times. Retrieved 2025-03-12.