Photo By Chief Petty Officer Carlos Vazquez II | Pilots fly a Missing Man formation in honor of VADM Paul F. McCarthy during his...... read more read more
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CORONADO, Calif. - Memorial services were held to honor the life of Vice Adm. Paul F. McCarthy at the Christ Episcopal Church in Coronado, Calif., and Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery on Oct. 24.
McCarthy, a native of Boston, Mass., passed away Oct. 5 from a heart attack at his home in Coronado.
Friends and family gathered at the church in remembrance and recounted past experiences they had with McCarthy.
“My father once helped an agent from a local real estate office that needed an operation, but there was a blood shortage that had prevented the operation from occurring,” said Paul, the vice admiral’s son. “Upon hearing this, my father rolled up his sleeve, gave blood and then continued to his ship where he started a blood drive to raise money for the agent’s operation.”
He was born on March 3, 1934 and graduated from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy as an Ensign in 1954. His first assignment was aboard the USS Savage (DEK 386).
McCarthy was a man with many career accomplishments, including a tour to Vietnam, leading more than 260 combat strike missions.
“McCarthy was the Seventh Fleet commander from the time of propeller aircraft to high-speed jet aircraft,” said Rear Adm. John R. Hines Jr., deputy commander, 3rd Fleet. “He’s part of the history of Naval Aviation and a part of the Navy who will be sorely missed.”
As Seventh Fleet commander, his area of responsibility was 520,000 square miles of the Pacific to the Indian Ocean.
He then went to the Pentagon as the director of aviation plans and requirements in the office of the deputy chief of naval operations.
He retired on Feb. 1, 1990, after more than 30 years of honorable service. After retirement he lived in Coronado, where he enjoyed golfing, restoring classic cars and recently joined the board of trustees of the Maritime Museum of San Diego.
Some of McCarthy’s personal decorations and service medals include: Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with three Gold Stars, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star with a combat “V,” Meritorious Service Medal with one Gold Star and Air Medal with three Gold Stars and Bronze Numeral “24.”
McCarthy is survived by his wife of 54 years, Sandra, son Paul, daughter Stacy and three granddaughters.
For more news from Navy Public Affairs Support Element West, visit www.navy.mil/local/pacensandiego/
| Date Taken: | 10.24.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 10.28.2011 12:50 |
| Story ID: | 79204 |
| Location: | CORONADO, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 677 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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