1931
James
2010
James Charles Rowland
January 25, 1931 — May 24, 2010
James Charles Rowland, CDR, USN (Ret) died in the hospital on May 24, 2010 from acute leukemia. He was 79.
Born in the Woodville Community of Chester County, TN on January 25, 1931, he was the only child of James Orben “Orb†and Martha Mitchell Henson Rowland. He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant grandson, James McGowin Rowland.
Charles is survived by his beloved wife of 53 years, married June 2, 1956, Carolyn Faye Pritchard Rowland, a daughter, Laura, a son, Michael Edward and his wife, Virginia Raines and a grandson, Charles Pritchard Rowland.
Upon graduation from the University of Tennessee in 1951, Charles enlisted in the U.S. Navy. In 1952, he was selected to attend Officer Candidate School and was subsequently commissioned as an Ensign. Charles had a 24-year career in the Navy, much of it spent on ships. He commanded the Fleet Tug USS ATAKAPA (ATF 149) the Rescue, Salvage, Diving and Lifting Ship USS SALVAGER (ARSD 3) and was the Officer-in-Charge of the Destroyer Escort USS GREENWOOD (DE 679). Charles was the Executive Officer of the Fleet Minesweeper USS POCHARD (AM 375) and the Landing Ship Dock USS ALAMO (LSD 33) and was the Main Propulsion Assistant on the USS CANBERRA (CAG 2).
Charles served at the Pentagon as the Assistant Head of the Service Craft and Boats Desk, responsible for the assignment of all service craft and boats in the U.S. Navy. He also served a tour with the Fleet Operations Control Center, London, England allowing him and his family to travel over most of Europe. His last assignment was as the Executive Officer of the Naval Station in Charleston, SC. For a period of time, he served as the Commanding Officer of the Naval Station.
Charles retired from the Navy in 1974 as a Commander, after earning the following: Command at Sea Insignia, Command Ashore Insignia, U.S. Navy Commendation Medal (2), U.S. Navy Expeditionary Medal (Cuba), U.S. Navy Occupation Service Medal (Europe), National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal w/3 stars, Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross), Republic of Vietnam
Campaign Medal w/Device, Navy Expert Rifleman Medal and the Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal. He was a Disabled Veteran. He was a life member of the Retired Officers Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and the Disabled American Veterans. He was also an Endowment Member of the National Rifle Association.
Charles began a new career with the State of Tennessee in 1976. He worked for the Department of Employment Security until 1985. In 1985, he began working for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. In 1986, Charles was promoted and transferred to Jackson, TN as a Veterans’ Benefit Representative. In this position, he supervised ten counties in Southwest Tennessee providing services to veterans, he and their dependents. He retired from the state in 1993.
Born in the Woodville Community of Chester County, TN on January 25, 1931, he was the only child of James Orben “Orb†and Martha Mitchell Henson Rowland. He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant grandson, James McGowin Rowland.
Charles is survived by his beloved wife of 53 years, married June 2, 1956, Carolyn Faye Pritchard Rowland, a daughter, Laura, a son, Michael Edward and his wife, Virginia Raines and a grandson, Charles Pritchard Rowland.
Upon graduation from the University of Tennessee in 1951, Charles enlisted in the U.S. Navy. In 1952, he was selected to attend Officer Candidate School and was subsequently commissioned as an Ensign. Charles had a 24-year career in the Navy, much of it spent on ships. He commanded the Fleet Tug USS ATAKAPA (ATF 149) the Rescue, Salvage, Diving and Lifting Ship USS SALVAGER (ARSD 3) and was the Officer-in-Charge of the Destroyer Escort USS GREENWOOD (DE 679). Charles was the Executive Officer of the Fleet Minesweeper USS POCHARD (AM 375) and the Landing Ship Dock USS ALAMO (LSD 33) and was the Main Propulsion Assistant on the USS CANBERRA (CAG 2).
Charles served at the Pentagon as the Assistant Head of the Service Craft and Boats Desk, responsible for the assignment of all service craft and boats in the U.S. Navy. He also served a tour with the Fleet Operations Control Center, London, England allowing him and his family to travel over most of Europe. His last assignment was as the Executive Officer of the Naval Station in Charleston, SC. For a period of time, he served as the Commanding Officer of the Naval Station.
Charles retired from the Navy in 1974 as a Commander, after earning the following: Command at Sea Insignia, Command Ashore Insignia, U.S. Navy Commendation Medal (2), U.S. Navy Expeditionary Medal (Cuba), U.S. Navy Occupation Service Medal (Europe), National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal w/3 stars, Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross), Republic of Vietnam
Campaign Medal w/Device, Navy Expert Rifleman Medal and the Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal. He was a Disabled Veteran. He was a life member of the Retired Officers Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and the Disabled American Veterans. He was also an Endowment Member of the National Rifle Association.
Charles began a new career with the State of Tennessee in 1976. He worked for the Department of Employment Security until 1985. In 1985, he began working for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. In 1986, Charles was promoted and transferred to Jackson, TN as a Veterans’ Benefit Representative. In this position, he supervised ten counties in Southwest Tennessee providing services to veterans, he and their dependents. He retired from the state in 1993.
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