Admiral Robert Bostwick Carney, U.S. Navy, was born in Vallejo, California, on 26 March 1895. His 43-year naval career began in 1912, as he became a Naval Academy midshipman. After graduation in 1916, he joined the battleship USS New Hampshire (Battleship No. 25). He was Torpedo and Gunnery Officer of the USS Fanning (Destroyer No. 37) when she sank the German submarine U-58.
Between the wars, Carney commanded several destroyers and a cargo ship, and served as gunnery and executive officer in battleships and cruisers and with fleet staffs. Navy Department duty ashore included Fleet Training Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, and small craft program coordination in the Secretary of the Navy’s office.
When the United States entered World War II, he was serving on the staff of Commander, Support Force, Atlantic Fleet, involved in convoy escort operations. From 15 October 1942, until July 1943, Captain Carney commanded the cruiser USS Denver (CL-58), participating in Solomon Islands actions. He was promoted to rear admiral on 26 July 1943, and became Chief of Staff to Admiral William F. Halsey Jr., Commander, South Pacific Force, and Commander, Third Fleet. Admiral Carney remained with Admiral Halsey throughout the remainder of the Pacific war campaigns. He concluded arrangements with the Japanese for entry of the Third Fleet into Tokyo Bay and accepted the surrender of Yokosuka Naval Base.
From 1946 to early 1950, Admiral Carney was Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Logistics). He took command of the Second Fleet on 6 March and on 2 October 1950, was promoted to four-star rank and named Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean. He became Commander in Chief, Allied Forces, Southern Europe, in June 1951, and retained that NATO command until appointed Chief of Naval Operations by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Admiral Carney retired from active duty upon completion of his tour as Chief of Naval Operations.
Admiral Carney died in 1990.
