CHARLES H. OSTROM, CDR, USN

Charles Ostrom '30

Date of birth: November 3, 1908

Date of death: November 24, 1943

Age: 35

Lucky Bag

From the 1930 Lucky Bag:

CHARLES HOWARD OSTROM

At Large

"Whitey" "Swede" "Charlie"

FROM his Viking ancestors Whitey has inherited a natural love of the sea. His boyhood days near the ocean did not lessen that attraction, and the result is that Whitey has turned to the sea for his life's work. Severn school prepared him for his debut into the ranks of the mariners, and he came to the Naval Academy with an engaging manner that soon won him many friends.

Plebe year turned out to be a struggle for his unusually carefree nature. When he was not disturbed by the ever-present upper classmen, the Dago department was sure to take its toll of grief. But he weathered the stormy trials of that year successfully and has had easy sailing the rest of the time.

Since the days of his high school triumphs at the game, lacrosse has held a gripping interest for Whitey. On the football field, too, he felt at home, and was quarterback of the class championship team in twenty-eight.

The air service has been a deep-rooted ambition of his since his first day as a Plebe. That goal once gained, Whitey will feel that life, after all, is worth living.

Lacrosse 4, 3, 2; Class Swimming 2; Class Football 2, 1; Water Polo 2; Chairman Class Crest Committee; 2 P.O.

CHARLES HOWARD OSTROM

At Large

"Whitey" "Swede" "Charlie"

FROM his Viking ancestors Whitey has inherited a natural love of the sea. His boyhood days near the ocean did not lessen that attraction, and the result is that Whitey has turned to the sea for his life's work. Severn school prepared him for his debut into the ranks of the mariners, and he came to the Naval Academy with an engaging manner that soon won him many friends.

Plebe year turned out to be a struggle for his unusually carefree nature. When he was not disturbed by the ever-present upper classmen, the Dago department was sure to take its toll of grief. But he weathered the stormy trials of that year successfully and has had easy sailing the rest of the time.

Since the days of his high school triumphs at the game, lacrosse has held a gripping interest for Whitey. On the football field, too, he felt at home, and was quarterback of the class championship team in twenty-eight.

The air service has been a deep-rooted ambition of his since his first day as a Plebe. That goal once gained, Whitey will feel that life, after all, is worth living.

Lacrosse 4, 3, 2; Class Swimming 2; Class Football 2, 1; Water Polo 2; Chairman Class Crest Committee; 2 P.O.

Loss

Charles was lost on November 24, 1943 when USS Liscome Bay (CVE 56) was torpedoed and sunk by a Japanese submarine.

His wife was listed as next of kin.

Charles was credited with seven air-to-air victories in World War II.

From USS Liscome Bay Crew list:

F4F Wilcat Ace (7 Japs). Dist. Flying Cross, 2 Air Medals. Purple Heart. Son C.H. Ostrom Jr. USNA 1958, Grandson LT Brian S. Ostrom USNA 1983, Great Grandson Sgt. Brian S. Ostrom, Jr. 2nd Recon Bn.

The above link also claims he was the embarked composite squadron's commanding officer; this is incorrect. (It also lists him as aboard from November 1, 1941, but the ship was not commissioned until August 1943.) Unclear on what unit or billet he was assigned, though he was not the ship's commanding officer, executive officer, or the chief of staff of the embarked admiral.

Distinguished Flying Cross

From Hall of Valor:

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Commander Charles H. Ostrom, United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while commanding a Fighter Squadron in the Solomon Islands from 2 to 20 February 1943. Commander Ostrom directed attacks on shore installations at Munda Point and on 20 Japanese destroyers. On the latter occasion his squadron shot down seven enemy fighters, enabling our bombers to carry out their attacks unmolested and score two direct hits on two destroyers.

General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 320 (November 1943)
Service: Navy
Rank: Commander

Note

Charles is listed on the Class of 1930 panel as if he was lost in November 1944; as he was listed as missing, this was the standard official date of death (year + 1 day).

Related Articles

Henry Mullinnix '16, Irving Wiltsie '21, Lester Kern '23, Finley Hall '29, and George Williams '40 were also lost in Liscome Bay.

Class of 1930

Charles is one of 42 members of the Class of 1930 in Memorial Hall.

• ← Alfred Grove '30
• James Kyes '30 →