Charles Butler McVay Jr.

Admiral, U.S. Navy

Charles Butler McVay, Jr. was born on 9 September 1868 in Edgeworth, PA. He was an 1890 graduate of the U.S. 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 1907-09, After the cruise of the Great White Fleet, he commanded the tender, USS Yankton. He then held various assignments of increasing importance during and after World War I. Later, in the earlier 1930s, he served as Commander-in-Chief, Asiatic Fleet.

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

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

After the Great War, Charles B. McVay Jr. served as a Commander in the Yangtze Patrol. At this time the U.S., 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.

On 9 September 1929, Charles V. McVay Jr. was promoted to the four-star rank of Admiral and commanded the U.S. Asiatic Fleet.

Admiral McVay retired from the Navy in October 1932.

Personal

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

Death and Burial

Admiral Charles Butler McVay, Jr. died on 28 October 1949. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA, in Section 2, Site 3749 R H.