Clifton Bledsoe Cates Jr. (1921 - 2010)

Born 9 Sep 1921 in San Francisco, California, United States

Ancestors

Died 4 Mar 2010 at age 88 in Fairfax County, Virginia, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Judy Dimmick [send private message]

Biography

Captain Clifton Cates Jr. served in the United States Navy in World War II
Service started: June, 1942
Unit(s): USS Pennsylvania (BB-38)
Service ended:

Clifton Cates Jr. served in the United States Navy in the Korean War
Service started:
Unit(s):
Service ended:

Clifton Cates Jr. served in the United States Navy in the Vietnam War
Service started:
Unit(s): USS Cassin Young (DD-793)
Service ended:

Clifton Cates Jr. was awarded the American Defense Service Medal.

Clifton Cates Jr. was awarded the National Defense Service Medal.

Following his Graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy on June 19, 1942, Cates was commissioned Ensign, and through subsequent promotions attained the rank of Captain during his career. He received many awards during his exceptional career, and the following paragraph was inscribed on the Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon: "For outstanding heroism in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Pacific war area from May 4, 1943 to February 10, 1945. Operating under ten separate commands, the USS Pennsylvania was the only battleship to take part in every amphibious operation during this period from Attu in the Northern area the Lingayen in the Philippines… A gallant and dependable veteran, the Pennsylvania completed nearly thirty years of unfailing service by her deadly close in bombardment and gun fire support in the recapture of the Philippines, fulfilling her prolonged and vital mission without casualty to herself or her personnel by Japanese fire…”

Other awards listed in the article from the last link were: American Defense Service Medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with eight engagement stars; World War II Victory Medal; National Defense Service Medal; and the Philippines Defense, Liberation, and Independence Ribbons.

Captain Cates was married to the former Phyllis Stork for 57 years. The couple had three children: Clifton III, Ellen and Nancy. Captain Cates is buried in SECTION 31 SITE 3240, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington County, VA.

Sources

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/60503549/clifton-bledsoe-cates

https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/research-guides/modern-biographical-files-ndl/modern-bios-c/cates-clifton-bledsoe-jr.html