Charles Alan Pownall

Charles Alan Pownall (October 4, 1887 – July 19, 1975)[1] was a Vice admiral in the United States Navy and Governor of Guam (May 30, 1946 – September 27, 1949).[2] He was the third military Governor and first naval Governor of Guam following the United States recapture of the island from the Japanese. 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 Truman to transfer control of the island away from the Navy. As a consequence, Charles Pownall was the last military governor of Guam.[3]

Charles Alan Pownall
3rd Military Governor of Guam
In office May 30, 1946 – September 27, 1949
Preceded by	Henry Louis Larsen
Succeeded by	Carlton Skinner, First Appointed Governor of Guam
Personal details
Born	(1887-10-04)October 4, 1887 Atglen, Chester Country, Pennsylvania, USA
Died	July 19, 1975(1975-07-19) (aged 87) San Diego, California, USA
Resting place	El Camino Memorial Park, Sorrento Valley, San Diego, CA
Nationality	United States
Spouse(s)	Mary Chenoweth Pownall
Awards	Navy Cross Navy DSM Legion of Merit Navy Commendation Medal
Military service
Nickname(s)	"Baldy"
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Navy
Years of service	1910-1949
Rank	Vice admiral
Commands	USS Reid (DD-21) USS Vedette (SP-163) USS John D. Ford (DD-228) USS Enterprise (CV-6) USS Yorktown (CV-10)
Battles/wars	World War I Atlantic U-boat Campaign World War II Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign

Military service

Charles Pownall after the capture of Roi-Namur.

Early career

Charles A. Pownall was born on October 4, 1887 in Atglen, Pennsylvania and after the graduation from high school, he received appointment to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. He graduated in June 1910 and was commissioned Ensign on that date. Pownall then served briefly aboard the battleships USS Mississippi, USS Missouri, USS Ammen, and USS Reid. He also participated in the Veracruz expedition in mid 1914.

World War I

During World War I, then-Lieutenant Commander Pownall commanded the patrol vessel USS Vedette (SP-163) on convoy escort and antisubmarine operations in the Atlantic Ocean and European waters and was awarded the Navy Cross; 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".[4]

Interwar

During the 1920s, Lieutenant Commander Pownall served as the first commanding officer of the destroyer USS John D. Ford (DD-228). 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 USS Enterprise (CV-6).

World War II

During World War II, Pownall commanded the fast aircraft carrier Task Group 50.1 in the Pacific Theater with the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV-10) as his flagship. He was in command of Task Force 50 when it raided the Japanese positions on Tarawa in the 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.[5]

After a perceived lack of aggressiveness during the capture of Marshall Islands, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz ordered him replaced by Marc Mitscher at the end of February 1944.[6] Pownall subsequently commanded Naval Air Forces, Pacific Fleet before he was ordered back to the United States to command Naval Air Training Command. For his service in the later capacity, Pownall received Legion of Merit.[5]

In September 1945, Pownall was ordered back to Pacific area and served as Commander Naval Forces Marianas with additional duty as military Governor of Guam from 30 May 1946. In addition to his wartime decorations, he was decorated with Navy Commendation Medal and two Navy Presidential Unit Citations.

Governorship

He helped organize much of the island's basic government, and also approved the flag of Guam and the seal of Guam.[7]

Congressional walkout

Pownall sitting on the Guam Island Court in 1947

In 1948, Pownall, along with the United States Secretary of the Navy, 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.[3] When the Guam Congress attempted to pass a law allowing them to subpoena American citizens, Pownall vetoed it.[3] Despite this, while investigating suspected abuses involving Americans owning businesses through Guamanian frontmen, the Congress subpoenaed Abe Goldstein over his involvement in a local women's clothing store. Citing Pownall's veto, Goldstein refused to testify.[3] The Guam Congress cited Goldstein for contempt and issued a warrant for his arrest, but were stopped by Pownall.[3]

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.[3] 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.[8] 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.[3]

The dismissals caused outrage among Guamanians and 12 of Guam's 19 villages voted not to recognize the replacements.[9] 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.[3] In September 1949, administration of Guam was transferred to the United States Department of the Interior. Under the new government, the Governor of Guam was appointed by the President. Truman appointed Carlton S. Skinner as Guam's first civilian Governor, replacing Pownall. Pownall was the last military governor of Guam.[3]

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. He died on July 19, 1975 in San Diego, California and is buried at El Camino Memorial Park together with his wife, Mary Chenoweth Pownall.

Notes

1. Adm Charles Alan Pownall (1887-1975): Find-A-Grave Memorial
2. Cahoon, Ben (2000). "Guam". World Statesmen. Retrieved 1 May 2009.
3. Babauta, Leo (2 May 2009). "Guam Congress Walkout". Guampedia and University of Guam. Archived from the original on 11 October 2008. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
4. The Navy Book of Distinguished Service: An Official Compendium of the Names and Citations of the Men of the United States Navy, Marine Corps, Army and Foreign Governments Who Were Decorated by the Navy Department for Extraordinary Gallantry and Conspicuous Service Above and Beyond the Call of Duty in the World War (editor: Harry R. Stringer, p 117, Fassett Publishing Company: Washington DC, 1921).
5. "Valor awards for Charles A. Pownall". valor.militarytimes.com. Militarytimes Websites. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
6. Budge, Kent (2008). "Pownall, Charles A." The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia. Retrieved 3 May 2009.
7. Reynolds, Leslie; Deniz Smith (2 May 2009). "Guam Seal and Flag". Guampedia and University of Guam. Archived from the original on 1 May 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
8. Babauta, Leo (2 May 2009). "Carlos Pangelinan Taitano". Guampedia and University of Guam. Archived from the original on 15 September 2008. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
9. Sanchez, Pedro (1988). Guahan Guam: The History of Our Island. Hagåtña, Guam: Sanchez Publishing House. p. 299.

References

• Adm Charles Alan Pownall (1887-1975): Find-A-Grave Memorial

Military offices
Preceded by Henry Louis Larsen	Governor of Guam 1946-1949	Succeeded by Carlton Skinner First Appointed Governor