Charles Sprague Beightler (January 12, 1898 – August 19, 1982) served in the United States Navy, commanding vessels during World War II in the Pacific, and ultimately achieving the rank of rear admiral.
Early life Beightler was born in Marysville, Ohio, the son of William P. Beightler, President of the Perfect Cigar Company, and Joana Sprague, daughter of Franklin B. Sprague. His brothers were Robert S. Beightler and Donald, father of Dr. Charles S. Beightler."Minuteman: The Military Career of General Robert S. Beightler", John Kennedy Ohl. Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2001. p. 4
College and military In 1916, he enrolled at the Ohio State University and was a member of the freshmen basketball squad and Alpha Sigma fraternity."Caduceus, Volume 31, Issue 5", Kappa Sigma Fraternity. 1916. p. 530 Later that year he left the university and enrolled at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis."History of the Ohio state university", Ohio State University; Mendenhall, Thomas. Ohio State University Press. 1920. p. 35 He would graduate with the class of 1920 having achieved the rank of Midshipmen."Annual register of the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md", United States Naval Academy. 1920. p. 60"Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps and Reserve Officers on Active Duty", United States. Bureau of Naval Personnel. 1917. p. 173
By 1924 he was a Lieutenant instructing on the USS Farquhar in Florida,"Navy directory : officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, also including officers of the U.S. Naval Reserve Force (active), Marine Corps Reserve (active), and foreign officers serving with the Navy", Washington, D.C. : Bureau of Navigation, Navy Dept. March 1924. Retrieved 13 May 2017 and by 1926 he training at the Great Lakes Station."Navy Directory : Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, Apr 1926", United States. Navy Dept. Bureau of Navigation, United States. Marine Corps. April 1926. p. 16.
World War II During World War II, he would command the USS Electra from June 23, 1943, to September 20, 1944,"USS Electra (AKA-4)", NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive. Retrieved 13 May 2017"USS ELECTRA AKA-4", Ravey. Retrieved 13 May 2017 and USS Rawlins from November 11, 1944, to April 1, 1946,"USS Rawlins (APA-226)", NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive. Retrieved 13 May 2017 in the Pacific Theater, earning a Bronze Star for extraordinary achievement.George Carroll Dyer. The Amphibians Came to Conquer: The Story of Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner, Volume 2. U.S. Department of the Navy, 1972. p. 879"Charles Sprague Beightler", Military Times. Retrieved 13 May 2017
Personal life He was married to Bonita Pennicke, a United States Naval Nurse. He died on August 19, 1982, in El Cajon, California, and is interred at Arlington National Cemetery."Charles Sprague Beightler", Billion Graves. June–August 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2014
References