Charles Adam Ott Jr. (September 26, 1920 – December 9, 2006) was a United States Army major general who served as commander of the 40th Armored Division and 40th Infantry Division, and director of the Army National Guard.
Early life Charles Adam Ott Jr. was born on September 26, 1920, in Santa Barbara, California, the son of Charles Adam Ott Sr. and Leona Elizabeth (Theote) Ott.California Birth Index, 1905–1995, entry for Charles A. Ott Jr. He attended the public schools of Santa Barbara and was a 1937 graduate of Santa Barbara High School. Ott graduated from Stanford University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics in 1941 and was the Honor Graduate of his Reserve Officers' Training Corps class.California Adjutant General, Biennial Report, 1952, page 29
World War II Commissioned as a second lieutenant of artillery, Ott completed the Artillery Officer Basic Course in 1941, the Artillery Officer Advanced Course in 1942, and the United States Army Command and General Staff College in 1943.United States House Committee on Science and Technology, Hearing Record, Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight, Biographical sketch, Charles A. Ott Jr., 1981, page 183
Ott served in Europe during the war, first with the 76th Field Artillery Battalion, including assignments as battery commander, battalion operations and training officer (S-3), executive officer, and commander. He later served as operations and training officer for the 18th Field Artillery Group, and carried out an assignment in California on the staff of the Sixth United States Army. He was a lieutenant colonel when he was discharged in 1946.United States House Committee on Appropriations, Hearing Record, Military Construction Appropriations for 1978, Biographical sketch, Charles A. Ott Jr., 1977, page 259
Interbellum After the war, Ott returned to Santa Barbara and pursued a business career as an executive of his family's business, Ott Hardware, and he became the company's president upon the retirement of his father. He also served as president of Sterling Supply Corporation and Channel Properties, Incorporated.Telephone Engineer Publishing Corporation, Telephone Engineer & Management, Volume 66, 1962, page 34David Williams Company, Hardware Age, Volume 167, Issues 1–6, 1951, page 170
Ott continued his military career with the California Army National Guard as commander of the 981st Field Artillery Battalion.Los Angeles Times, , September 2, 1952
Korean War In 1950, Ott was called to federal service with the 40th Infantry Division for the Korean War. He served as commander of the division artillery, and received promotion to colonel.National Guard Association of the United States, Official Proceedings, Volumes 93–96, 1971, 214
Senior command In 1952, Ott was promoted to brigadier general as commander of the 40th Armored Division Artillery.Corona Daily Independent, Col. C.A. Ott Guard General, September 3, 1952
Ott was assigned as assistant division commander of the 40th Armored Division in 1958.California Adjutant General, Biennial Report, 1958, page 99 In 1960, he was promoted to major general and assigned as commander of the 40th Armored Division.National Guard Bureau, General officers of the Army and Air National Guard, Volume 1, 1972, entry for Charles A. Ott Jr. In August, 1965, Ott commanded the division when it was activated in response to the Watts Riots.Gerald Horne, Fire this Time: The Watts Uprising and the 1960s, 1995, page 162Jerry Cohen, William Sarsfield Murphy, Burn, Baby, Burn!: The Los Angeles Race Riot, August, 1965, 1966, page 166
Ott also served as commander of the California National Guard's Southern Emergency Operations Center and commander of the 79th Rear Area Operations Support Center.California Secretary of State, California Roster of State, Federal and County Officials, 1958, page 43National Guard Association of the United States, The National Guardsman, Volumes 24–25, 1970, page 34
In 1969 he commanded National Guard members activated in response to flooding in Santa Barbara County and other areas of Southern California.United Press International, Ben Bulletin, Flooding Maroons Hundreds in Rain-Soaked California, January 27, 1969U.S. House Public Works Committee, Hearing Record, Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments, 1969, page 34
In 1971, he was named deputy commander of the California National Guard, and in January 1974, he received appointment as commander of the 40th Infantry Division.
In 1974, Ott was appointed director of the Army National Guard, serving until his 1978 retirement.National Guard Association of the United States, The Guardsman, Volume 32, Issues 7–10, 1978, page 68
Ott's awards included the Army Distinguished Service Medal, Army DSM Legion of Merit,LOM {https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/144071} Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal, and Army Commendation Medal.Marquis Who's Who, Who's Who in the West, 1982–1983, Volume 18, 1982, page 561
Later career After retiring from the military, Ott served as director of the Arizona Division of Emergency Services.Arizona Information Press, The Arizona Yearbook, 1981, page 38
Ott died at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital on December 9, 2006.Santa Barbara News-Press, Death notice, Charles A. Ott Jr., December 12, 2006Santa Barbara News-Press, Death notice (second), Charles A. Ott Jr. , December 16, 2006Social Security Death Index, entry for Charles A. Ott Jr., accessed May 22, 2013 He is buried at Santa Barbara Cemetery, Summit Lot 683, Grave 03.Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society, Cemetery records, entry for Charles A. Ott Jr., accessed May 23, 2013
Family In February 1943, Ott married Patricia Jane Parrish. They were the parents of three children.
References
External links Charles A. Ott Jr. at Santa Barbara High School Alumni Association