James Franklin Caldwell, Sr. – Captain, United States Navy

From a contemporary press report:

Retired Navy Captain James Franklin “Pooch” Caldwell Sr., 63, of Fairfax, Virginia, a fourth-generation Naval Academy graduate and former resident of Annapolis, died of a heart attack October 19, 1998, at Fairfax County Hospital,Virginia.

Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, Captain Caldwell graduated in 1953 from Annapolis High School and received his bachelor's degree from the academy in 1958. He was the son of Captain Rex A. Caldwell Sr., Class of 1925, and the former Elizabeth Sanders Chase; the grandson of Admiral Jehu V. Chase, Class of 1890; and the great-grandson of Admiral Henry C. Taylor, Class of 1864.

He spent considerable time in Annapolis while his sons were at tending the academy.

Following graduation, he took nuclear submarine training and was on the USS Abraham Lincoln and the USS Swordfish as the first nuclear engineer officer of his class. Subsequently he was executive officer on the USS Pintado and commanding officer of the USS Glenard P. Limpcomb.

During his 30-year naval career, he taught at the Naval Submarine School in Groton, Connecticut, was on the naval operations staff for submarines, and was chief staff officer of Submarine Development Squadron Twelve.

He earned a master's degree in public administration from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, and served at the Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, D.C.

In addition to various medals, he was honored by the king of Norway for his work during a three-year tour as U.S. Defense Attache in Oslo, Norway.

Captain Caldwell retired in 1988 and worked on submarine quieting, the introduction of foreign technology in the United States and consulting services to the commercial nuclear power industry.

Surviving are his wife of 40 years, Margaret Mary Anderson Caldwell, who graduated from Annapolis High School in 1954; three sons, all academy graduates, Navy Commander James Franklin Caldwell Jr., Class of 1981, and Navy Lieutenant Commander David M. Caldwell, Class of 1984, both of Chesapeake, Virginia, and Anderson C. Caldwell Sr., former Marine Corps Captain, Class of 1983, of Woodbridge, Virginia; one daughter, Jeanne M. Caldwell of Clifton, Va., and four grandchildren.

Also surviving are two brothers, Rex S. Caldwell, Class of 1955, and Mike Caldwell, both of Annapolis; and two sisters, Betsy Thunman of Fairfax, Virginia, and Valentine Tyler of Great Falls, Virginia.

Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. tomorrow at the Everly Funeral Home, Main Street, Fairfax, with a brief service at 8 p.m. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Naval Academy Chapel, with burial at 1 p.m. in Arlington National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 7203 Poplar St., Annandale, Virginia  22003.

CALDWELL, JAMES FRANKLIN
CAPT   US NAVY
VIETNAM

  • DATE OF BIRTH: 10/16/1935
  • DATE OF DEATH: 10/19/1998
  •  BURIED AT: SECTION 31  SITE 7858
  • ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

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