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Charles A. Ott Jr.

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Charles A. Ott Jr.
Major General Charles A. Ott Jr. as Director of the Army National Guard, circa 1975
Born(1920-09-26)September 26, 1920
Santa Barbara, California
DiedDecember 9, 2006(2006-12-09) (aged 86)
Santa Barbara, California
Buried
Santa Barbara Cemetery
Allegiance United States of America
Service / branchUnited States Army
Years of service1941–1978
Rank Major General
UnitCalifornia Army National Guard
Army National Guard
Commands76th Field Artillery Battalion
981st Field Artillery Battalion
40th Infantry Division Artillery
40th Armored Division Artillery
40th Armored Division
40th Infantry Division
California National Guard Southern Emergency Operations Center
79th Rear Area Operations Support Center
Army National Guard
Battles / warsWorld War II
Korean War
AwardsArmy Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal
Air Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Spouse(s)Patricia Jane Parrish (m. 1943)
Children3
Other workPresident, Ott Hardware and other businesses
Director, Arizona Division of Emergency Services

Charles Adam Ott Jr. (September 26, 1920 – December 9, 2006) was a United States Army major general who served as commander of the 40th Armored Division and 40th Infantry Division, and director of the Army National Guard.

Early life

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Charles Adam Ott Jr. was born on September 26, 1920, in Santa Barbara, California, the son of Charles Adam Ott Sr. and Leona Elizabeth (Theote) Ott.[1][2] He attended the public schools of Santa Barbara and was a 1937 graduate of Santa Barbara High School.[3] Ott graduated from Stanford University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics in 1941 and was the Honor Graduate of his Reserve Officers' Training Corps class.[4]

World War II

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Commissioned as a second lieutenant of artillery, Ott completed the Artillery Officer Basic Course in 1941, the Artillery Officer Advanced Course in 1942, and the United States Army Command and General Staff College in 1943.[5]

Ott served in Europe during the war, first with the 76th Field Artillery Battalion, including assignments as battery commander, battalion operations and training officer (S-3), executive officer, and commander. He later served as operations and training officer for the 18th Field Artillery Group, and carried out an assignment in California on the staff of the Sixth United States Army. He was a lieutenant colonel when he was discharged in 1946.[6]

Interbellum

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After the war, Ott returned to Santa Barbara and pursued a business career as an executive of his family's business, Ott Hardware, and he became the company's president upon the retirement of his father. He also served as president of Sterling Supply Corporation and Channel Properties, Incorporated.[7][8]

Ott continued his military career with the California Army National Guard as commander of the 981st Field Artillery Battalion.[9]

Korean War

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In 1950, Ott was called to federal service with the 40th Infantry Division for the Korean War. He served as commander of the division artillery, and received promotion to colonel.[10]

Senior command

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In 1952, Ott was promoted to brigadier general as commander of the 40th Armored Division Artillery.[11]

Ott was assigned as assistant division commander of the 40th Armored Division in 1958.[12] In 1960, he was promoted to major general and assigned as commander of the 40th Armored Division.[13] In August, 1965, Ott commanded the division when it was activated in response to the Watts Riots.[14][15]

Ott also served as commander of the California National Guard's Southern Emergency Operations Center and commander of the 79th Rear Area Operations Support Center.[16][17]

In 1969 he commanded National Guard members activated in response to flooding in Santa Barbara County and other areas of Southern California.[18][19]

In 1971, he was named deputy commander of the California National Guard, and in January 1974, he received appointment as commander of the 40th Infantry Division.[13]

In 1974, Ott was appointed director of the Army National Guard, serving until his 1978 retirement.[20]

Ott's awards included the Army Distinguished Service Medal,[21] Legion of Merit,[22] Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal, and Army Commendation Medal.[23]

Later career

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After retiring from the military, Ott served as director of the Arizona Division of Emergency Services.[24]

Ott died at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital on December 9, 2006.[25][26][27] He is buried at Santa Barbara Cemetery, Summit Lot 683, Grave 03.[28]

Family

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In February 1943, Ott married Patricia Jane Parrish.[29][30] They were the parents of three children.[29]

References

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  1. ^ California Birth Index, 1905–1995, entry for Charles A. Ott Jr.
  2. ^ U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology (1981). Emergency Management Information and Technology: Hearings Before the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office. p. 184 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ Putz, Tim (March 14, 2013). "Five Santa Barbara High School Alumni to Join 'Wall of Fame'". Noozhawk. Santa Barbara, CA.
  4. ^ California Adjutant General, Biennial Report, 1952, page 29
  5. ^ United States House Committee on Science and Technology, Hearing Record, Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight, Biographical sketch, Charles A. Ott Jr., 1981, page 183
  6. ^ United States House Committee on Appropriations, Hearing Record, Military Construction Appropriations for 1978, Biographical sketch, Charles A. Ott Jr., 1977, page 259
  7. ^ Telephone Engineer Publishing Corporation, Telephone Engineer & Management, Volume 66, 1962, page 34
  8. ^ David Williams Company, Hardware Age, Volume 167, Issues 1–6, 1951, page 170
  9. ^ Los Angeles Times, 40th Infantry Division's Reorganization to Start, September 2, 1952
  10. ^ National Guard Association of the United States, Official Proceedings, Volumes 93–96, 1971, 214
  11. ^ Corona Daily Independent, Col. C.A. Ott Guard General, September 3, 1952
  12. ^ California Adjutant General, Biennial Report, 1958, page 99
  13. ^ a b National Guard Bureau, General officers of the Army and Air National Guard, Volume 1, 1972, entry for Charles A. Ott Jr.
  14. ^ Gerald Horne, Fire this Time: The Watts Uprising and the 1960s, 1995, page 162
  15. ^ Jerry Cohen, William Sarsfield Murphy, Burn, Baby, Burn!: The Los Angeles Race Riot, August, 1965, 1966, page 166
  16. ^ California Secretary of State, California Roster of State, Federal and County Officials, 1958, page 43
  17. ^ National Guard Association of the United States, The National Guardsman, Volumes 24–25, 1970, page 34
  18. ^ United Press International, Ben Bulletin, Flooding Maroons Hundreds in Rain-Soaked California, January 27, 1969
  19. ^ U.S. House Public Works Committee, Hearing Record, Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments, 1969, page 34
  20. ^ National Guard Association of the United States, The Guardsman, Volume 32, Issues 7–10, 1978, page 68
  21. ^ Army DSM [1]
  22. ^ LOM {https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/144071}
  23. ^ Marquis Who's Who, Who's Who in the West, 1982–1983, Volume 18, 1982, page 561
  24. ^ Arizona Information Press, The Arizona Yearbook, 1981, page 38
  25. ^ Santa Barbara News-Press, Death notice, Charles A. Ott Jr., December 12, 2006
  26. ^ Santa Barbara News-Press, Death notice (second), Charles A. Ott Jr. Archived 2013-06-16 at archive.today, December 16, 2006
  27. ^ Social Security Death Index, entry for Charles A. Ott Jr., accessed May 22, 2013
  28. ^ Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society, Cemetery records, entry for Charles A. Ott Jr., accessed May 23, 2013
  29. ^ a b 40th Infantry Division (September 1, 2000). Dedication of 40th Infantry Division Korean War Memorial (PDF). Anaheim, CA: Burnett Engraving. p. 4.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  30. ^ "Mrs. Ott In South". Oakland Tribune. Oakland, CA. May 4, 1943. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
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