CHARLES R. STEWART, LTJG, USN
Charles Stewart '55
Lucky Bag
From the 1955 Lucky Bag:
CHARLES RICHARD STEWART
San Fernando, California
It's a long way from the sunny beaches of Southern California to the soggy shores of Maryland, and Dick traveled it the long way, stopping off for a tour of duty with the Navy in Japan. Known to the members of his company for his soccer playing and sailing abilities and to his classmates as a good man to have along on liberty or when a party is brewing, he has managed to make a good record without letting academics worry him. A native Californian, Dick spends most of his leaves on the beach or cruising around town with one of the local lovelies in a smooth convertible. His humor and good judgment will guarantee his future success.
He was also a member of the 22nd Company Fall Leadership.
CHARLES RICHARD STEWART
San Fernando, California
It's a long way from the sunny beaches of Southern California to the soggy shores of Maryland, and Dick traveled it the long way, stopping off for a tour of duty with the Navy in Japan. Known to the members of his company for his soccer playing and sailing abilities and to his classmates as a good man to have along on liberty or when a party is brewing, he has managed to make a good record without letting academics worry him. A native Californian, Dick spends most of his leaves on the beach or cruising around town with one of the local lovelies in a smooth convertible. His humor and good judgment will guarantee his future success.
He was also a member of the 22nd Company Fall Leadership.
Loss
Charles was lost in a plane crash on March 5, 1957.
From the May 1957 issue of Shipmate:
Lt.(jg) CHARLES R. STEWART was killed in an aircraft accident near Moffett Field, Calif., on 5 March 1957. Lieutenant Stewart was a native Californian and had served as an enlisted man for three years before going to the Naval Academy. He was single. The address of his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Ambrose Stewart, is Route 3, Box 150-A, Saugus, Calif.
Charles was an instructor pilot; the student was also killed.
Obituary
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Father Captain Ambrose, mother Nellie of Sheriff’s Honor Rancho. Two sisters Elizabeth and Leota; two half-brothers Lt. Commander Clement C. Doyle and Clayton M. Doyle.
The squadron was returning from Phoenix on a training flight.
From the Signal newspaper, Santa Clarita, California, on March 14, 1957:
From Moffett Field came Lt. Stewart’s commanding officer, Commander Tolman and 12 junior officers. From Los Angeles came the firing squad of the Sheriff’s Star Post, American Legion, led by Sheriff Gene Biscailuz in person.
Honor groups of the deceased’s college and high school classmates were present.
His aerial squadron was returning from a practice flight high over the mountains and were executing a descent pattern in which their zig-zag corners were reported by radio at successively lower levels.
RADIO VOICE STOPS
At the 7,000-foot level the reports from Lt. Stewart’s plane suddenly stopped.The jet plummeted to earth near the town of Mountain View. Fellow officers … professed themselves mystified as to the cause of the disaster.
He graduated from San Fernando High School when his father was commander at Newhall Sheriff Station. Later he attended Glendale City College and was so outstanding in his scholastic work that he won an appointment to the U. S. Naval Academy.
The funeral cortege was escorted by C. H. P. officers, and he was buried in Glen Haven Cemetery.
The final rites were strictly military … The rifles of the Legion firing squad crackled their final salute, the bugle sent its last melancholy strains of “Taps,” floating upon the afternoon air, then commander Tolman removed the new American flag from the casket, reverently folded it, and presented it to Captain and Mrs. Stewart.”
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