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Archive |
NARA - San Bruno |
Record Group: |
9NS-313-94-01, Box 06 of 21 |
Sub Group: |
321762, Folder 132 |
Page: |
022 |
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Category: |
War History |
Unit: |
USS Barataria (AVP-33) |
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To: |
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Description: |
Biographies - Commanding Officer: Cmdr. Garrett S. Coleman |
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THE COMMANDING OFFICER
The Commanding Officer, Commander Garrett S. Coleman, is a graduate
of the United States Naval Academy, Class of 1933. During the world-wide
financial depression, fifty-percent of the class received active commission,
thus it was with a heavy heart and a Bachelor of Science degree that he left
the Navy and went to work for the Shell Eastern Petroleum Company at New
York City. Military ties proved too strong for the Commander and in September
of 1933, he joined the Army Air Force as a flying cadet, hoping to win
a commission as an Army pilot. In June of 1934, legislation was enacted to
return all members of the Class of 1933 to active duty, giving them their
former precedence in grade. He was at last to return to his own branch of
service with a permanent commission.
From July 1934 until December of the same year was spent taking a refresher
course at Naval Air Station, Pensacola. In January of 1935, Commander
Coleman joined the Fleet in the U.S.S. COLORADO as an Ensign, Naval
Aviator. Since then he has held the following billets:
1935 - 1937 U.S.S. COLORADO.
1937 - 1938 U.S.S. SARATOGA - Squadron VB-3.
1938 - 1940 VPB-18, VPB-8, VPB-24 - Patrol Planes.
1940 - 1942 U.S.S. RALEIGH - Senior Aviator.
1942 - (3 mos) N.A.S., Maui - Executive Officer.
1942 - 1944 N.A.T.C., Corpus Christi - Operations Officer.
1944 - (3 mos) N.A.S., Corpus Christi - Executive Officer.
1944 - U.S.S. BARATARIA (AVP-33) - Commanding Officer.
The Commander married Eulalie J. Vance, the daughter of Captain Deane
H. Vance, MC, USN(Ret), in June 1937, and is the father of three children;
one boy and two girls.
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