CHARLES R. STAPLER, CDR, USN

Charles Stapler '39

Date of birth: March 17, 1916

Date of death: June 9, 1951

Age: 35

Lucky Bag

From the 1939 Lucky Bag:

CHARLES RAMSAY STAPLER

Washington, D.C.

Brute, Corkie

Charlie is one of those men whose quick smile and genial nature make you want to know him. Born in Baltimore, reared the world over, and appointed from California; he's a Navy junior set on following his father's footsteps. He attains his objectives by hard work rather than by genius. Corkie has a decided bent towards athletics; in the spring his fancy turns to crew, where of an afternoon one can hear him calling, "Give 'er ten." As for ladies, he is never in want of a drag. He has an inherent weakness for them—and for chow, too. Always easy-going and cheerful, he's an ideal roommate. How can you fail to get along with a man who won't do anything but smile even in adversity?

Crew 4, 3, 2, 1; Soccer 4, 3; Battalion Cross Country 2; Battalion Soccer l; Boat Club; 2 Stripes.

Charles is also in the 1938 Lucky Bag (p. 185), with the exact same writeup. This was discovered accidentally, and we don't know the details for why he was

CHARLES RAMSAY STAPLER

Washington, D.C.

Brute, Corkie

Charlie is one of those men whose quick smile and genial nature make you want to know him. Born in Baltimore, reared the world over, and appointed from California; he's a Navy junior set on following his father's footsteps. He attains his objectives by hard work rather than by genius. Corkie has a decided bent towards athletics; in the spring his fancy turns to crew, where of an afternoon one can hear him calling, "Give 'er ten." As for ladies, he is never in want of a drag. He has an inherent weakness for them—and for chow, too. Always easy-going and cheerful, he's an ideal roommate. How can you fail to get along with a man who won't do anything but smile even in adversity?

Crew 4, 3, 2, 1; Soccer 4, 3; Battalion Cross Country 2; Battalion Soccer l; Boat Club; 2 Stripes.

Charles is also in the 1938 Lucky Bag (p. 185), with the exact same writeup. This was discovered accidentally, and we don't know the details for why he was

Loss

From Find A Grave:

USNA Class of 1939, Commander Stapler was the pilot of a AD-4Q Skyraider Queen with Carrier Air Group 19, flying with Composite Squadron 35 aboard the carrier USS PRINCETON (CV-37). On June 10, 1951, his aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire and crashed north at CT 7756 north of Kumsong.

Other Information

From VC-35 Night Hecklers history:

Composite Squadron Thirty-Five (VC-35) was established 25 May 1950 at NAS San Diego, CA. The squadron was commanded by Cdr. Charles R. Stapler USN, and equipped with Douglas "AD" Skyraider aircraft. The primary mission was to provide anti-submarine detachments to attack aircraft carriers. Teamed with VC-11's AD-3Ws, VC-35 's Skyraiders would provide a hunter-killer capability to embarked air groups. Additional missions included night strike, electronic countermeasures (ECM), as well as search and rescue (SAR).
On 25 June 1950, a month after establishment, North Korea invaded South Korea. Two days later, the United States entered the war and VC-35 's secondary night attack mission became of primary importance; one that would provide a unique combat role for pilots and aircrewmen.

Charles became commander of Air Group 19 when the previous commanding officer, CDR Merrick, was shot down over Korea on May 18, 1951. Charles was flying a AD-4Q Skyraider belonging to Composite Squadron (VC) 35 when he was shot down; the crewman aboard survived the war as a prisoner. He was flying from USS Princeton (CV 37).

He has a memory marker in Arlington National Cemetery.

Photographs

From the Lucky Bag

Navy Cross

From Hall of Valor:

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Commander Charles Ramsay Stapler (NSN: 0-82333), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism as Commander, Air Group NINETEEN (CAG-19), and as Pilot of a Night Fighter Aircraft of Composite Squadron THIRTY-FIVE (VC-35), attached to the U.S.S. PRINCETON (CV-37), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea during the early morning hours of darkness on 9 June 1951. Despite low ceilings and practically zero visibility, Commander Stapler voluntarily took off from the PRINCETON on a predawn heckler mission over North Korea. Accompanied by another fighter plane, he carried out several aggressive bombing and strafing attacks against enemy installations and lines of communications in the face of intense hostile anti-aircraft fire. When his plane was struck by a stray burst of enemy fire and started to burn, Commander Stapler remained at the controls where he was last seen by his radar man, who bailed out. By his outstanding leadership, courage and inspiring devotion to duty throughout, Commander Stapler succeeded in inflicting extensive damage and destruction upon the enemy. His actions at all times were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: Board Serial 149 (February 15, 1957)
Action Date: 9-Jun-51
Service: Navy
Rank: Commander
Company: Composite Squadron 35 (VC-35)
Regiment: Air Group 19 (CAG-19)
Division: U.S.S. Princeton (CV-37)

Distinguished Flying Cross

From Hall of Valor:

SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Commander [then Lieutenant] Charles Ramsay Stapler (NSN: 0-82333), United States Navy, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as pilot of a Torpedo Bomber in the Atlantic Area during World War II.
General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 337 (April 1945)
Action Date: World War II
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant Commander
Company: Torpedo Squadron

Navy Directories & Officer Registers

The "Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps" was published annually from 1815 through at least the 1970s; it provided rank, command or station, and occasionally billet until the beginning of World War II when command/station was no longer included. Scanned copies were reviewed and data entered from the mid-1840s through 1922, when more-frequent Navy Directories were available.

The Navy Directory was a publication that provided information on the command, billet, and rank of every active and retired naval officer. Single editions have been found online from January 1915 and March 1918, and then from three to six editions per year from 1923 through 1940; the final edition is from April 1941.

The entries in both series of documents are sometimes cryptic and confusing. They are often inconsistent, even within an edition, with the name of commands; this is especially true for aviation squadrons in the 1920s and early 1930s.

Alumni listed at the same command may or may not have had significant interactions; they could have shared a stateroom or workspace, stood many hours of watch together… or, especially at the larger commands, they might not have known each other at all. The information provides the opportunity to draw connections that are otherwise invisible, though, and gives a fuller view of the professional experiences of these alumni in Memorial Hall.