Carey Hall Cash is a United States Navy Rear Admiral and chaplain who serves as the 21st Chaplain of the United States Marine Corps and Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy since May 2022. An ordained minister, Cash served in multiple positions as a military chaplain, including as the command chaplain to , , and Carrier Strike Group 3, as well as chaplain to former President Barack Obama at Camp David, the U.S. presidential retreat.
Early life, family and education Cash was born in Memphis, Tennessee, to a religious family. His father, Roy Cash Jr., was a fighter pilot in the Navy for 30 years. His mother, Billie, runs a Christian ministry and is the author of several books about her faith. His older sister, Kellye Cash, was Miss America 1987.
Cash attended The Citadel in South Carolina and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the great-nephew of the singer Johnny Cash.
Military career Cash served on the battlefield during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He baptized more than fifty men during the war. In addition, he served as Senior Protestant Chaplain at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, where he served midshipmen of all faiths with distinction and received Navy citations for his work.
Cash is a chaplain through the Anglican Church in North America's Special Jurisdiction of the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy.
Awards and qualifications Cash's awards include:
1st rowLegion of Merit with two gold award stars2nd rowMeritorious Service Medal with three gold award starsNavy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two award starsNavy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with two award stars3rd rowNavy Combat Action RibbonNavy and Marine Corps Presidential Unit CitationJoint Meritorious Unit Award4th rowNavy Meritorious Unit Commendation RibbonNavy "E" Ribbon w/ one Battle E deviceFleet Marine Force Ribbon5th rowNational Defense Service MedalAfghanistan Campaign Medal with one bronze campaign starIraq Campaign Medal with one bronze campaign star6th rowGlobal War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal with FMF and one bronze campaign starGlobal War on Terrorism Service MedalNavy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with two bronze campaign stars7th rowNavy and Marine Corps Overseas Service RibbonNavy Accession Training Service RibbonNATO Medal (Non-Article 5)Command pinCommand Ashore insigniaBadgePresidential Service Badge
References
Obama Administration MSNBC, 10-14-09 Time magazine: The Obamas Find a Church Home — Away from Home Obama chaplain has Tennessee ties Joe Biddle • The Tennessean • October 4, 2009 'He is excellent' says President Obama