Charles B. McVay, Jr.

Charles Butler McVay II (September 9, 1868 – October 28, 1949) was an admiral in the United States Navy after World War I.

In 1907-1909, After the cruise of the Great White Fleet, he commanded the tender, Yankton. He then held various assignments of increasing importance throughout and after World War I. Later, in the earlier 1930s, he served as Commander-in-Chief, Asiatic Fleet.

Rear Admiral Charles Butler McVay Jr. was born on September 9, 1868 at Edgeworth, Pennsylvania. He was an 1890 graduate of the United States Naval Academy. During the Spanish-American War (1898), Ensign McVay served aboard the USS Amphitrite (BM-2), a double-turret monitor. They patrolled the waters off Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Key West and participated in the shelling of San Juan in May 1898.

In 1908, after serving as a navigator aboard USS Hartford and USS Alabama and a tour at the US Naval Academy, Commander McVay was given command of the USS Yankton. In 1909, Lieutenant Commander McVay, was stationed at Norfolk, Virginia, as the USS Yankton had just returned from an around the world cruise with the Great White Fleet.

World War I service

During World War I, Charles B. McVay Jr. served as commander aboard three vessels: USS Saratoga, USS New Jersey (BB-16), and USS Oklahoma.

Asiatic Fleet Command

After the Great War, Charles B. McVay Jr. served as a commander in the Yangtze Patrol. At this time, the United States with Japan and the major European nations, had garrisons in Shanghai, Beijing and Tianjin. U.S. Navy gunboats regularly patrolled the Yangtze River to protect foreigners during a turbulent period when China had no effective central government. In 1929, Charles V. McVay Jr. was promoted to Admiral and commanded the United States Asiatic Fleet. He retired from the Navy in October 1932 and died on October 28, 1949.

His son, Charles B. McVay III, was the commanding officer of the ill-fated Indianapolis.

See also