Robert N. "Bob" Carroll
ROBERT CARROLL GRADUATES FROM NAVAL SCHOOL
Robert N. Carroll, airman, USN, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Carroll of Lowell, Ind., was recently graduated as honorman from the Aviation Storekeeper school at the Naval Air Technical Training Center, Memphis.Carroll, who entered the Naval service July 19, 1949, received his recruit training at the Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Ill.
Before entering the Navy, he attended Lowell High School.
from The Lowell Tribune, Sept. 14, 1950, page 2, column 1:
- "Bob" Carroll, son of the Charles Carrolls, Sr., who has been in the navy for the past year, left Sept. 9th, for the Mediterranean Sea.
The following December 28, 1950, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 1, column 3:
ROBERT CARROLL VISITS PARIS
Robert Carroll, airman, USN, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Carroll of Lowell, Indiana, recently had the opportunity of visiting Paris. His ship, the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea, made Canes, France, a ten-day stopover on her recent Mediterranean cruise.On conducted tours, or just on their own, the sailors were given a chance to see for themselves all that the city offered. The Eiffel Tower, the Arc of Triumph, Pigalle, the ships and cafes of Montmarte, were all subjects for visiting or explorations.
Language proved no barrier as the sailors wandered from the sidewalk cafes on the Champs Elysees to the Palace at Versailles.
A March 29, 1951, Lowell Tribune article (page 5, column 4) about Joseph Carroll mentions that his brother, Bob Carroll, was with the Navy aboard the U.S.S. Coral Sea.
This June 7, 1951, Lowell Tribune article was found page 8, column 4:
Robert N. Carroll Serving In Mediterranean Area
Robert N. Carroll, aviation storekeeper, third class, USN, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Carroll of Illinois Street, Lowell, is serving aboard the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea, now on its fourth tour of duty in the Mediterranean.A unit of the Sixth Fleet, the huge carrier was the third super carrier launched after World War II. It is the flagship of Commander, Carrier Division 7.
Ports of call in the Mediterranean for ships of the Sixth Fleet include France, Italy, Africa, Sicily and Greece, among others. Four tours in that area has made the Coral Sea a symbol of American air power.
The following October 25, 1951, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 1, column 4:
- Robert Carroll, AK3, who has been aboard the USS Coral Sea in the Mediterranean area, arrived at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Carroll, Sr., on Oct. 14th. Bob enlisted in the Navy about 2½ years ago and has accomplished much in that time. He has visited several foreign countries. The celebrities he has met include of the Queen of Greece. Bob, who has completed two years of college work, will leave Oct. 29th for Norfolk. He will resume his studies and play basketball again this winter. His home coming was celebrated Sunday at a turkey dinner in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Al Mueller. Other guests included Mr. and Mrs. Charles Carroll, Sr., Mr. and Mrs. Charles Carroll, Jr. and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Walker and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Mueller and children, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Carroll and daughters of Oak Park, and Mr. and Mrs. John Clancy of Chicago.
The following November 15, 1951, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 1, column 2:
- A letter received by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Carroll, Sr., from their son, Robert, tells of his return to Norfolk, Va. Bob, who spent the summer at sea, recently enjoyed 15 days at home. A star basketball player, Bob is now hard at practice for the coming season and will also soon resume his studies.
The following December 13, 1951, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 1, column 5:
Almost a Football Player
Robert Carroll AK3, who is aboard the USS Coral Sea anchored at Portsmouth, Va., tells his parents, the Charles Carrolls, Sr., in a recent letter that his request for a Christmas leave had been denied and he will again have to spend another Christmas aboard ship. Bob spent last week in sick bay nursing a badly sprained ankle which he sustained in basketball practice. This misfortune robbed him of a chance to get into his first football game with the Portsmouth Cubs who played a tilt for charity last week. Bob, who never played football in high school, decided to try out, and made the team at one of the halfback spots. But he still doesn't know what it's like to play in a game and as his ship's team has only four more left on its schedule, he will have to wait until next season to find out. As soon as his ankle mends, he will be back at his old forward spot with the basketball team on which he starred last season. Bob's address follows: Robert N. Carroll, AK3, 5-Division, USS Coral Sea (CUB-43), N.N.S.Y., Portsmouth, Virginia.The following December 27, 1951, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 2:
Bob Carroll Writes Family His Christmas Greetings
Bob Carroll, aboard the U.S.S. Coral Sea at Augusta, Sicily, wrote his family on November 16, expressing his regrets because he would not be home for the holiday season. The following excerpts express his feelings:"Hello everybody. This is going to be short and sweet because all I want to do is express my feelings toward you at Christmas time. My feelings right now have a little touch of sadness mixed in with the Christmas spirit. I guess everyone is a little sad at Christmas time, but is a wonderful sadness.
"Loving you all like I do, it is going to be quite hard for me to be away from home for the first time in my life on Christmas Day. Right now even my heart is aching for that comfort of celebrating the holidays with the family all around me."
Because he knew he wouldn't be home, Bob sent the letter so he could at least "be there in spirit" and hoped it would reach home by the 25th. Even writing the letter, Bob said, would enlighten his Christmas, knowing that part of him at least would be home to welcome St. Nick and also the New Year 1952.
This February 14, 1952, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 2:
Bob Carroll Stars with U.S.S. Coral Sea Cagers
Bob Carroll, serving aboard the U.S.S. Coral Sea, at present stationed at Portsmouth, Va., is continuing where he left off last season as one of the star cagers of the ship's basketball team.According to newspaper clippings of five games which Bob sent to his parents, the Charles Carrolls, he has scored from 13 to 19 points in each of the contests to help his team keep the lead in the Portsmouth City Adult Basketball League. Bob, a guard on the starting five, scored a total of 80 points in the five games for a 16 point average.
Bob, who is nearing the close of his enlistment time, is hoping to be home sometime in July "to stay."
The following February 21, 1952, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 1:
Lowell Cager Member of Winning Service Team
More clippings from a Portsmouth, Va. newspaper reveal that the USS Coral Sea team on which Bob Carroll of Lowell is a starter won the first title in the city adult league in a play-off with the Moose, 71-69. Although Carroll lost a little of his scoring punch in the last three games, he still managed a 10-point average.This June 19, 1952, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, columns 2-4:
- How friends meet one never can tell! Aboard the U.S.S. Coral Sea, sailing in the Mediterranean Sea is Bob Carroll. The Coral Sea met the Midway at Gilbralter and between the teams of the two ships, a basketball game ensued. Bob heard someone call his name and looking up saw Louis Camus, of Schneider. The fellows were classmates at L.H.S.
Bob's interesting letter reveals details of the Wasp's disaster.
He tells of the welcome given the Midway by the Coral Sea.
"When the captain of the Midway came aboard the Coral Sea he had ten side boys to welcome him -- not with salutes but kisses because they were all dressed up as females, representing French bathing beauties! The band had whites on and also black ribbons which turned the whites into prison uniforms. With this setting, the band played, "If I Had the Wings of an Angel." A while back three masked men held up a big crap game and the Midway will never live this down. The Coral Sea decorated a motor boat up like a gambling casino with a dice table, roulette wheel and poker table. Signs along the side read: "Club 41 Open all nigh,t, "No reveille for our customers." A mock crap game was held when the motor boat went over to the Midway, with dice the size of 50 pound cakes of ice. During the game, one man dressed as the Midway captain passed by, seeing the crap game he barged in, sat down and laid a big wad of money on the table and joined the game."
An exerpt of an October 16, 1952, Lowell Tribune article, which appeared on page 1, column 3, tells of Bob Carroll:
- News comes of Jim Quivey's safe arrival in French Morocco where he expects to be stationed for the coming 18 months. A plane mechanic with the Navy, he flew to Port Lyautey last week. He was thrilled to meet Bob Carroll at the port. Bob was returning to the States to play basketball.
The following December 4, 1952, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2 column 4:
- Called home on emergency leave by the death of his father, Robert N. Carroll arrived last night via United Air Lines and will be with his bereaved family for 30 days.