CHARLES C. SLATER, ENS, USN

Charles Slater '43

Date of birth: October 12, 1921

Date of death: November 13, 1942

Age: 21

Lucky Bag

From the 1943 Lucky Bag:

CHARLES CHESTER SLATER

Northampton, Massachusetts

Introducing Chuck, the fellow you can't help but like, for he always greets you with a smile; and remarkably enough, three years at the Naval Academy hasn't changed that smile a bit. Every spring a sudden surge of ambition sent him scurrying over to the boathouse to stroke it out, but more often, afternoons found his beaming face in the canteen line. Spells of golf and tennis rounded out his list of activities. Academically, Bull and Math were in his pet category of hates, but just take a look at the records and you'll find that Chuck was no bucket.

The Class of 1943 was graduated in June 1942 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.

CHARLES CHESTER SLATER

Northampton, Massachusetts

Introducing Chuck, the fellow you can't help but like, for he always greets you with a smile; and remarkably enough, three years at the Naval Academy hasn't changed that smile a bit. Every spring a sudden surge of ambition sent him scurrying over to the boathouse to stroke it out, but more often, afternoons found his beaming face in the canteen line. Spells of golf and tennis rounded out his list of activities. Academically, Bull and Math were in his pet category of hates, but just take a look at the records and you'll find that Chuck was no bucket.

The Class of 1943 was graduated in June 1942 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.

Loss

Charles was lost when USS Barton (DD 599) was sunk during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on November 13, 1942.

The wartime service of Barton and her officers and crew are detailed in this wonderful history.

From the Class of 1943 anniversary book "25 years later…":

Chuck was born 12 October, 1921 in Northampton, Massachusetts. He was appointed from that state and entered the Academy on 7 June, 1939. After graduation, he reported to the destroyer USS BARTON in the South Pacific in time for the Guadalcanal Campaign. On the night of 12-13 November 1942, the BARTON joined with others in the third Battle of Savo Island against a Japanese Striking Force. The BARTON remained in combat a brief seven minutes in which she launched four torpedoes at a fast moving enemy target to be followed shortly by a torpedo hit in her forward fire room followed by another in the forward engine room which tore the ship in two and sank it almost instantly. Chuck and ninety percent of the crew perished. He wore the Purple Heart, American Defense Service Medal with Fleet Clasp and the Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal with two Bronze Stars. Chuck was survived by his mother, Mrs. Anna F. Slater, who at his death resided at 26 Fruit St., Northampton, Massachusetts.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Charles graduated from Northampton High School. His father Joseph was a finisher in a casket shop, mother Anna, and brother Henry. His parents were born in Poland.