USS Charr Patches & Flags
With some History about them.

To any USS CHARR crewmen, who visit this page.
If you know of additional information on Patchs and Flags or have documation of
wrong information on this page, please contact:
Ray Samson.
I would hope that this page be as accurate as possible. Knowing the bins of past Submarine info
are emptying at a alarming rate, your help would be appreciated.
Thank You.
 


USS Charr's very first patch.
This was designed and placed on the boat in 1945, while USS Charr was assigned duty in Guam.


Here's how she looked in 1945
Thank You Charr Plankowner, Norm Strang, for the picture.
 


USS Charr's second patch.
After completing training in Guam, USS Charr was heading to Pearl.
The skipper of Charr was told to remove or dress the lady up.
here is the story, from plankowner Norman E. Strang who was a EM3(SS).

We were a couple of days out of Fremantle, on our way out, when the war
ended. By the time we got back, most of the celebration was over. We spent 4
or 5 days there and then went to Sydney. From there to Guam. I think that's
when the logo was put on. Don't know who was responsible but he (they) did a
good job. We then went on Fleet exercises in the Solomon Islands. That's
where we thru a fan on one of the generators and returned to Guam. They
couldn't fix it there so we had to go to Pearl. That's when they dressed her up.

Sorry I can't be of more help. The few guys that I have access to that were
there at the time don't have any more info than what I've stated. Maybe
someday we will learn. I hope so. You young ones keep digging. Someday some
body's diary or notes will turn up. Not mine, I've been thru them a 100 times
and nothing I haven't said before. Take care and best to all.
DBF  Norm


Dressed the lady and shoved off for Pearl
Thank You Charr Plankowner, Norm Strang, for the picture.

The patch below is the one that was in use when I reported aboard in June of 1955. Most all the memorabilia
I had, disappeared over the years. About 2-1/2 years ago I was going through a bunch of old books checking
on what "stuff" I placed between pages and came accross my ol-patch.


When I compared it to the ones I had purchased, I seen there was a couple big difference's
between them. Behind the Gold Dolphins there lays "the long dark green".
Anyone who may have had a Captains Mast, will certainly rememer:
"Facing the Old Man Across the Long Green"
The other difference is the color and lack of detail in the Boat.
Guess we had better sewing machines in the 50's

Anyone who may have information on the evolution of these patches, pleas get in touch with me.
Thank You

Ray Samson

The Boats Flag
When was this flag made? I served on USS Charr from 55-59 and don't ever recall seeing
this flag.
More important .... where might she be today?

This answer comes from George Angel RM1(SS)

The flag was made for Walt Whitman, the CO of Charr in 1954, he had that made in WestPac Japan in 1954 and it remained his personal possession. In 1955, Lt Brest or LT BRESS took it to Los Angeles to show to his family and forgot to bring it back....prior to getting underway and while docked at broadway pier...the Co CDR Whitman made him drive to LA and bring it back...
It was never on the ship after he was relieved of command by LCDR Harris, so my bet is he took it with him since it belonged to him.....

From Charr's wardroom, we hear from Al Bress, who was a LTjg, and
served on CHARR from 1954-1956 as Torpedo Officer, Communication Officer and Engineer Officer.
It was always my understanding that the ship had purchased the flag, but it well could have been that Bill Whitman put up the money and the flag truly belonged to him. CHARR at that time was a hot boat, in that we had won two consecutive E's in the Division (we ultimately had three consecutive E's [E with two hash marks]). That sort of made us the number one submarine in our group. When we arrived in Yokosuka, the Japanese Yard workers saw our big, white E and inquired as to its meaning. Their reply to our explanation was, generally, "ah so, ichi ban sensuikan", a direct translation of number one submarine. (At other times, seeing our own unprofessional, makeshift repairs to CHARR, they would say, "how you guys win the war?").

 

I previously mentioned that Bill Whitman essentially took charge of the flag. On occasion, I remember seeing it draped over the gyro compass in port during our deployment. In 1955, prior to our departure for Mare Island for Regular Overhaul, he allowed me to display it in my apartment at Mission Beach which I shared with bachelor officers from CHARR and SEGUNDO. We called the place Chateau Chargundo. Since I had relatives in LA, I was invited to leave my car on their property while the ship was in overhaul. As CHARR and SEGUNDO entered the Yard together for overhaul, we all had to vacate the apartment at the same time. I stuffed all my worldly possessions in the trunk of that red Ford convertible and drove it to LA, completely forgetting, in the rush to leave, that I should return the flag to Whitman. When I got back to the ship, Bill asked if we had moved out successfully, and by the way, where was the flag. I told him I absentmindedly left it in the trunk of my car, now in LA, but would return it to him after the overhaul. Rightfully, he reminded me of my error and wanted the flag before we left. I quickly hopped a PSA flight for Burbank, picked up the flag, flew back to San Diego and returned it to its proper owner, all on the same day. As I presented the flag to him, he gave me a big smile. I smiled also, knowing that my Captain, for whom I had great respect, had taught me an important lesson. 

In that Bill passed away during the past couple of years, one of his family members is surely now displaying the flag with Bill's eternal blessing, and won't have to give it back.
 
Yours aye,
 
Al Bress, CAPT, USN (Ret.)