Signed Presentation Photograph From Admiral Robert Carney, USN SOLD

Description

Signed Presentation Photograph From Admiral Robert Carney, USN. Signed in blue ink on the mount, “To Vice Admiral John Ballentine, USN, Commander Sixth Fleet – Fine leader, grand companion, and valued friend.  Robert Carney, Admiral, USN -CinC NF-EM.”  I’mnot sure about Carney’s last four unit designation as he wrote them, but at this time the only “Commander in Chief” designation would have been Naval Forces Eastern Atlantic -Mediterranean.

During the end of the war in the Pacific, both Carney and Ballentine were in Admiral Halsey’s Third Fleet; Carey was COS, and Ballentine commanded Carrier Division 7, his flag hoisted on Bon Homme Richard, CV-31.

The image measures 4.5 x 6 inches, mounted on board, and applied to heavy backing from Frame.

Robert Carney (1895-1990).  Admiral Carney during WWI saw combat against German U-Boats.  He acted as Flag Secretary to Admiral Louis de Steiguer in the 1920’s. They had a rough relationship, where in one instance, Carney marched into the Admiral’s cabin and snapped, “Admiral, I just want to tell you I think you are a goddamn rotten son of a bitch,” and then abruptly stormed out of the cabin. The Admiral followed him to his quarters, and said Carney had been working too hard, then sent him ashore, in the company of the Admiral and both went into an epic drinking binge.  Carney admitted latter that they were instrumental years for his career.

He saw a good deal of combat in the Pacific in WWII, some of the time serving with Admiral Halsey’s Third Fleet.  He would be decorated with the Navy DSM for his contributions he made in the Pacific war.

Carney. as Halsey’s Chief of Staff, witnessed a Halsey meltdown, when Admiral Nimitz sent a message to Halsey asking, Where is repeat where is Task Force 34? The world wonders.  The last part of that message was called padding and meant to confuse enemy decoders, but Halsey to affront to the message, thinking it was a rebuke. Halsey angrily throw his cap on the deck of the bridge and began a tirade of cursing, where Carney confronted Halsey, “Stop it!  What the hell’s the matter with you? Pull yourself together.” Halsey cooled down and turned the fleet south to support the 7th Fleet.

In May of 1953, President Eisenhower promoted Carney as Chief of Naval Operations, and upon the completion of his service there, retired a full admiral.