Postscript

A distinguished Navy officer, a devoted husband and father, and a man whose world view was forged in World War II; Carl Jesse Pritchard is all these things and more. Born in humble surroundings, he rose through the military ranks to a senior position; but for Carl, family was just as important as career and he often made choices that kept him closer to his family.

To start reading his story, scroll down to the next entry and start reading - I've posted his story sequentially.

Carl was involved with the many details of writing of this story, both in five taped interviews I conducted from 1986 to 2001, and in follow-up conversations which started in Sept 2003 and continued for months after.

Jim Pritchard also contributed heavily to this work; providing stories, timelines and brotherly advice.

I did significant research work on the Navy History website and noticed that Carl’s name is not mentioned anywhere. This bothers me, but I recognize that nearly all the men who are mentioned have stories of bravery in combat. Someone who wasn’t on the front-lines or in the highest ranks, but nonetheless distinguished themselves during their career, doesn’t carry the same weight when history is recorded.

In the span of Carl’s 30-year Navy career, he rose to the highest rank possible. Though he was given a severe setback early in his career, he overcame it and excelled in his new pursuit. While always a military man, Carl put high importance on his family and often made career choices that kept him closer to his family.

This project compelled me to take a comprehensive look at my father. While I had been intending to consolidate his taped recollections into a story; this project forced me to go deeper and analyze his life. When I dug to find the emotional moments that affected him, Carl revealed some stories he had never shared before, including the surprising admission that he was the only man to survive his flight training class.

Those emotional moments truly affected me and gave me a more profound appreciation for his life. I saw what a hero my father was during wartime and what a hero he remains for me today.

Finally, I welcome stories, photos, memories and contributions of all kinds, because I want to update this document periodically. My contact info is listed in the sidebar.

Thanks for sharing in a part of the Pritchard family history.