Charles Alan Pownall (October 4, 1887 – July 19, 1975) was a Vice admiral in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

and Governor of Guam (May 30, 1946 – September 27, 1949). He was the third military Governor and first naval Governor of Guam following the United States recapture of the island from the

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. After conflict with the Guam Congress in 1948, Pownall replaced many Congressmen with his own appointments, whom the Guamanians refused to recognize. The ensuing protest persuaded

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university * President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...

Truman to transfer control of the island away from the

Navy A navy, naval force, or maritime force is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral, or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions. It in ...

. As a consequence, Charles Pownall was the last military governor of Guam.

Military service

Early career

Charles A. Pownall was born on October 4, 1887, in

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, and after the graduation from high school, he received an appointment to the

United States Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy (US Naval Academy, USNA, or Navy) is a federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as Secretary of the Navy. The Naval Academy ...

at Annapolis, Maryland. He graduated in June 1910 and was commissioned as an ensign on that date. Pownall then served briefly aboard the battleships USS ''Mississippi'' and USS ''Missouri'', and the destroyers USS ''Ammen'' and USS ''Reid''. He also participated in the Veracruz expedition in mid-1914.

World War I

During

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

Lieutenant Commander Lieutenant commander (also hyphenated lieutenant-commander and abbreviated Lt Cdr, LtCdr. or LCDR) is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander. The corresponding ran ...

Pownall commanded the

patrol vessel A patrol boat (also referred to as a patrol craft, patrol ship, or patrol vessel) is a relatively small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defence, border security, or law enforcement. There are many designs for patrol boats, and the ...

convoy A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support and can help maintain cohesion within a unit. It may also be used ...

escort and

antisubmarine An anti-submarine weapon (ASW) is any one of a number of devices that are intended to act against a submarine and its crew, to destroy (sink) the vessel or reduce its capability as a weapon of war. In its simplest sense, an anti-submarine weapo ...

operations in the

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and

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an waters and was awarded the

Navy Cross The Navy Cross is the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps' second-highest military decoration awarded for sailors and marines who distinguish themselves for extraordinary heroism in combat with an armed enemy force. The medal is eq ...

; citation as follows:

For distinguished service in the line of his profession as commanding officer of the USS ''Vedette'', engaged in the important exacting and hazardous duty of transporting and escorting troops and supplies through waters infested with enemy submarines and mines.

Interwar

During the 1920s, Lieutenant Commander Pownall served as the first commanding officer of the destroyer . He completed flight training, he was designated a naval aviator in 1927. He then served as navigator aboard the aircraft carrier USS ''Saratoga'' and as air officer aboard the USS ''Lexington''. Pownall later had duty on the staffs of Commander in Chief Battle Fleet and Commander Aircraft Squadrons Battle Fleet. From 21 Dec. 1938 - 21 March 1941 he commanded the aircraft carrier .

World War II

During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, Pownall commanded the fast aircraft carrier Task Group 50.1 in the Pacific Theater with the aircraft carrier as his flagship. He was in command of Task Force 50.1 when it raided the Japanese positions on

Tarawa Tarawa is an atoll and the capital of the Republic of Kiribati,Kiribati
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Gilbert Islands on 18 September 1943 in preparation for the American invasion that would follow in November 1943. Pownall distinguished himself in the early phase of Gilbert Islands campaign and received Navy Distinguished Service Medal. After a perceived lack of aggressiveness during December 1943 and January 1944 raids against the

Marshall Islands The Marshall Islands ( mh, Ṃajeḷ), officially the Republic of the Marshall Islands ( mh, Aolepān Aorōkin Ṃajeḷ),'' () is an independent island country and microstate near the Equator in the Pacific Ocean, slightly west of the Intern ...

, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz ordered him replaced by Vice Admiral Marc Mitscher at the end of February 1944. Pownall subsequently commanded Naval Air Forces, Pacific Fleet before he was ordered back to the United States to command

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. For his service in the later capacity, Pownall received the Legion of Merit. In September 1945, Pownall was ordered back to Pacific area and served as

Commander Naval Forces Marianas Commander Naval Forces Marianas, also known as COMNAVMARIANAS, is the Navy force shore commander responsible for United States Navy activities in Guam, Saipan, Tinian and the surrounding islands, and is an Rear Admiral. COMNAVMARIANAS is current ...

with additional duty as military

Governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

Guam Guam (; ch, Guåhan ) is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States in the Micronesia subregion of the western Pacific Ocean. It is the westernmost point and territory of the United States (reckoned from the geographic cent ...

from 30 May 1946. In addition to his wartime decorations, he was decorated with the

Navy Commendation Medal The Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military decoration presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. Each branch of the United States Armed Forces issues its own version of the Commendation Medal, with a fifth ...

and two

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Governorship

He helped organize much of the island's basic government, and also approved the

flag of Guam The flag of the United States territory of Guam was adopted on February 9, 1948. The territorial flag is dark blue with a narrow red border on all sides (border was a later addition). The red border represents the blood spilled in World War II and ...

and the

seal of Guam The Seal of Guam appears in the middle of the Flag of the United States territory of Guam. It depicts Agaña Bay near Hagåtña, a local proa and a palm tree. Charles Alan Pownall approved the seal in 1946. It depicts a coconut palm on the sh ...

Congressional walkout

In 1948, Pownall, along with the

United States Secretary of the Navy The secretary of the Navy (or SECNAV) is a statutory officer () and the head (chief executive officer) of the Department of the Navy, a military department (component organization) within the United States Department of Defense. By law, the se ...

, gave the Guam Congress the power to create laws, pending the governor's approval. The Secretary of the Navy had the power to override a veto from either the Guam Congress or Governor Pownall. When the Guam Congress attempted to pass a law allowing them to

subpoena A subpoena (; also subpœna, supenna or subpena) or witness summons is a writ issued by a government agency, most often a court, to compel testimony by a witness or production of evidence under a penalty for failure. There are two common types of ...

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citizens, Pownall vetoed it. Despite this, while investigating suspected abuses involving Americans owning businesses through Guamanian frontmen, the Congress subpoenaed

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over his involvement in a local womens clothing store. Citing Pownalls veto, Goldstein refused to testify. The Guam Congress cited Goldstein for contempt and issued a warrant for his arrest, but were stopped by Pownall. When confronted, Pownall told Guam Speaker of the House Antonio Borja Won Pat to leave the matter to him. When Won Pat passed on the information to the House Assembly, they became angered at Pownall's comments. Stirred by Pownall and with media support, the House resolved to pass a bill requesting citizenship for Guamanians, and decided not to reassemble until the United States Congress had addressed the bill. On March 12, Pownall called a special joint session of Congress, but most Congressional members refused to attend. Pownell dismissed all those Congressmen who chose to break the law by not attending, and appointed replacements. The dismissals caused outrage among Guamanians and 12 of Guams 19 villages voted not to recognize the replacements. President Harry Truman ordered an investigation into the incident. Upon review, Truman ordered a transitional government created, and pressured Pownall to restore the former Congressmen to their seats on 2 April 1948. In September 1949, administration of Guam was transferred to the

United States Department of the Interior The United States Department of the Interior (DOI) is one of the executive departments of the U.S. federal government headquartered at the Main Interior Building, located at 1849 C Street NW in Washington, D.C. It is responsible for the ma ...

. Under the new government, the Governor of Guam was appointed by the President. Truman appointed Carlton S. Skinner as Guams first civilian Governor, replacing Pownall. Pownall was the last military governor of Guam.

Retirement

Pownall retired in October 1949 and was advanced to the rank of Vice Admiral on the retired list for having been specially commended in combat.

Personal life

Pownall's wife was Mary Chenoweth Pownall. On July 19, 1975. Pownall died in

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California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

. Pownall is interred at El Camino Memorial Park in

References

External links

Former Isle Governor Dies at newspapers.comAdm Charles Alan Pownall (1887-1975): Find-A-Grave Memorial
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pownall, Charles Alan 1887 births 1975 deaths United States Naval Academy alumni United States Naval Aviators Governors of Guam United States Navy admirals United States Navy World War II admirals Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States) Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal Recipients of the Legion of Merit