After graduation from the Naval Academy in 1920, Vice Admiral Wellborn served in the USS New Mexico (BB-40) and USS Nevada (BB-36), then in the USS West Virginia (BB-48) as aide and communications officer, Commander Battleships, followed by similar service in the USS California (BB-44). In 1933 he served three years at BuOrd, then returned to sea as CO of the USS Perry (DD-340). He later was navigator in the light cruiser USS Concord (CL-10) and gunnery officer for ComCruBatFor in the Honolulu (CL-48).
During World War II, Wellborn first served as Commander Destroyer Division 16, involved in amphibious landings in Sicily, and then with the Fifth Amphibious Force in the Pacific. After a tour as Director of Officer Personnel at BuPers, he assumed command of the USS Iowa (BB-61), participating in the first landing and occupation of Japan in 1945. Later highlights in his naval career included: Chief of Staff to CinCPac; Commander Second Fleet, Commander Eastern Sea Frontier; and Chairman of U.S. Delegation, UN Military Staff Committee.
In the oral history clip, Vice Admiral Wellborn discusses the Navy's attitude toward the Naval War College and how its philosophy and approach differed from that of the U. S. Army.
U.S. Naval Institute · 1972 Interview with VADM Charles Wellborn Jr., USN (Ret.) About Naval Education
For Vice Admiral Charles Wellborn's Oral History on the U.S. Naval Institute website, click here.
To read more about the Naval Institute Oral History Program, click here.
