Charles A. Ott, Jr.

Charles A. Ott, Jr.

Major General Charles A. Ott, Jr. as Director of the Army National Guard, circa 1975
Born September 26, 1920
Santa Barbara, California
Died December 9, 2006 (aged 86)
Santa Barbara, California
Place of burial Santa Barbara Cemetery
Allegiance  United States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service 1941-1978
Rank Major General
Unit California Army National Guard
Army National Guard
Commands held 76th 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
Director, Army National Guard
Battles/wars World War II
Korean War
Awards Army Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal
Air Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Other work President, Ott Hardware and other businesses
Director, Arizona Division of Emergency Services

Charles A. 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

Charles Adam Ott, Jr. was born on September 26, 1920 in Santa Barbara, California.[1] He graduated from Stanford University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics in 1941 and was the Honor Graduate of his Reserve Officer Training Corps class.[2]

World War II

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.[3]

Ott served in Europe during the war, first with the 76th Field Artillery Battalion, including assignments as Battery Commander, and Battalion Operations and Training Officer (S3), Executive Officer and Commander. He later served as Operations and Training Officer (S3) 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.[4]

Post World War II

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.[5][6]

Ott continued his military career with the California Army National Guard as Commander of the 981st Field Artillery Battalion.[7]

Korean War

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.[8]

Post Korean War

In 1952 Ott was promoted to Brigadier General as Commander of the 40th Armored Division Artillery.[9]

Ott was assigned as Assistant Division Commander of the 40th Armored Division in 1958.[10] In 1960 he was promoted to Major General and assigned as Commander of the 40th Armored Division.[11] In August, 1965, Ott commanded the division when it was activated in response to the Watts Riots.[12][13]

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.[14][15]

In 1969 he commanded National Guard members activated in response to flooding in Santa Barbara County and other areas of Southern California.[16][17]

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.[18]

National Guard Bureau

In 1974 Ott was appointed Director of the Army National Guard, and he served until his 1978 retirement.[19]

Awards and decorations

Ott’s awards included the Army Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal, and Army Commendation Medal.[20]

Later career

After retiring from the military Ott served as Director of the Arizona Division of Emergency Services.[21]

Death and burial

Ott died at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital on December 9, 2006.[22][23][24] He is buried at Santa Barbara Cemetery, Summit Lot 683, Grave 03.[25][26]

References

  1. ↑ California Birth Index, 1905-1995, entry for Charles A. Ott, Jr.
  2. ↑ California Adjutant General, Biennial Report, 1952, page 29
  3. ↑ United States House Committee on Science and Technology, Hearing Record, Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight, Biographical sketch, Charles A. Ott, Jr., 1981, page 183
  4. ↑ United States House Committee on Appropriations, Hearing Record, Military Construction Appropriations for 1978, Biographical sketch, Charles A. Ott, Jr., 1977, page 259
  5. ↑ Telephone Engineer Publishing Corporation, Telephone Engineer & Management, Volume 66, 1962, page 34
  6. ↑ David Williams Company, Hardware Age, Volume 167, Issues 1-6, 1951, page 170
  7. ↑ Los Angeles Times, 40th Infantry Division's Reorganization to Start, September 2, 1952
  8. ↑ National Guard Association of the United States, Official Proceedings, Volumes 93-96, 1971, 214
  9. ↑ Corona Daily Independent, Col. C.A. Ott Guard General, September 3, 1952
  10. ↑ California Adjutant General, Biennial Report, 1958, page 99
  11. ↑ National Guard Bureau, General officers of the Army and Air National Guard, Volume 1, 1972, entry for Charles A. Ott, Jr.
  12. ↑ Gerald Horne, Fire this Time: The Watts Uprising and the 1960s, 1995, page 162
  13. ↑ Jerry Cohen, William Sarsfield Murphy, Burn, Baby, Burn!: The Los Angeles Race Riot, August, 1965, 1966, page 166
  14. ↑ California Secretary of State, California Roster of State, Federal and County Officials, 1958, page 43
  15. ↑ National Guard Association of the United States, The National Guardsman, Volumes 24-25, 1970, page 34
  16. ↑ United Press International, Ben Bulletin, Flooding Maroons Hundreds in Rain-Soaked California, January 27, 1969
  17. ↑ U.S. House Public Works Committee, Hearing Record, Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments, 1969, page 34
  18. ↑ National Guard Bureau, General officers of the Army and Air National Guard, Volume 1, 1972, entry for Charles A. Ott, Jr.
  19. ↑ National Guard Association of the United States, The Guardsman, Volume 32, Issues 7-10, 1978, page 68
  20. ↑ Marquis Who's Who, Who's Who in the West, 1982-1983, Volume 18, 1982, page 561
  21. ↑ Arizona Information Press, The Arizona Yearbook, 1981, page 38
  22. ↑ Santa Barbara News-Press, Death notice, Charles A. Ott, Jr., December 12, 2006
  23. ↑ Santa Barbara News-Press, Death notice (second), Charles A. Ott, Jr., December 16, 2006
  24. ↑ Social Security Death Index, entry for Charles A. Ott, Jr., accessed May 22, 2013
  25. ↑ Charles Adam Ott, Jr. at Find A Grave
  26. ↑ Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society, Cemetery records, entry for Charles A. Ott, Jr., accessed May 23, 2013

External resources

Charles A. Ott, Jr. at Santa Barbara High School Alumni Association