Chapter One Captain John Harlee Carmichael Obituary

Where to start?  At the end!

Captain John Harlee Carmichael

Captain John Harllee Carmichael USN (Ret) (father of John Harllee Jr. (Ann), Thomas Glenn Carmichael, Helen Gordon Carmichael Seaman (Douglas), Caroline, Katy Carmichael Hibbeler and Michael) passed away today of nature causes.  Captain (as his grandchildren called him) was born in Waycross, Georgia, on September 7, 1914. He spent his first summer at St. Simons Island in 1915 and continued annual treks to the Waycross colony thereafter. His father was a salesman and the family traveled throughout Georgia, Virginia, and North Carolina. Some of his childhood was spent in Jacksonville, Florida. His mother felt the schools in Waycross and Jacksonville were subpar and moved the family to Washington, DC where her two aunts lived and one taught. Captain attended Western High School which was, at that time, a prep school for the US military academies. He met his lifelong friend and future brother-in-law there, John Court. They entered the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, in June 1932 and spent the next four years as roommates. During those years and upon graduation in 1936, Captain spent time honing his skills as a naval officer.

Shipmate May 2005

I remember John Harllee 34 for priceless advice he gave me in 1929 when were students at Western High School Washington DC.  (John’s father was a Marine who became famous advocating that one must aim a rifle before pulling the trigger.  He was one of the founders of the National Rifle Association.)  John and I attended a movie on the Spanish American War.  I thought it was very exciting.  As we left the theater John said, “They were using 1903 rifles.”

John was preparing for the Naval Academy.  My grandfather was grievously wounded in the Civil War and I was a high school cadet, so I thought I wanted to go to West Point.  John counseled me to try for the Naval Academy not West Point.  He started me on a most rewarding career.