Charles Alan Pownall
Encyclopedia
Charles Alan Pownall was a Rear Admiral
in the United States Navy
and Governor of Guam (May 30, 1946–September 27, 1949). He was the third military Governor and first naval Governor of Guam following the United States recapture of the island from the Japan
ese. After conflict with the Guam Congress in 1948, Pownall replaced many Congressmen with his own appointments, whom the Guamanians refused to recognize. The ensuing protest persuaded Truman to transfer control of the island away from the Navy. As a consequence, Charles Pownall was the last military governor of Guam.
During the First World War, Lt. Comdr. Charles A. Pownall, USN, commanded USS Vedette (SP-163)
and was awarded the Navy Cross; citation as follows:
During the 1920s, Lieutenant commander
Pownall served as the first commanding officer of the USS John D. Ford
. During World War II
, Pownall commanded the fast aircraft carrier task group TG or TF-50.1 in the South-East Asian theatre
, from the flagship USS Yorktown
. He was in command of Task Force 15 when it raided the Japanese positions on Tarawa in the Gilberts on 18 September 1943 in preparation for the allied invasion that would follow in November. After perceived lack of aggressiveness at Minami Torishima
, the Gilbert Islands
, and the Marshall Islands
, Admiral Nimitz ordered him replaced by Marc Mitscher
.
and the seal of Guam
.
, gave the Guam Congress the power to create laws, pending the governor's approval. The Secretary of the Navy had the power to override a veto from either the Congress or the Governor. When the Guam Congress attempted to pass a law allowing them to subpoena
American citizens, Pownall vetoed it. Despite this, while investigating suspected abuses involving Americans owning businesses through Guamanian frontmen, the Congress subpoenaed Abe Goldstein over his involvement in a local women's clothing store. Citing Pownall's veto, Goldstein refused to testify. The Guam Congress cited Goldstein for contempt and issued a warrant for his arrest, but were stopped by Pownall.
When confronted, Pownall told Guam Speaker of the House Antonio Borja Won Pat
to leave the matter to him. When Pat passed on the information to the House Assembly, they became angered at Pownall's comments. Stirred by Pownall and with media support, the House resolved to pass a bill requesting citizenship for Guamanians, and decided not to reassemble until the United States Congress
had addressed the bill. On March 12, Pownall called a special joint session of Congress, but most Congressional members refused to attend. Pownell dismissed all those Congressmen who chose to break the law by not attending, and appointed replacements.
The dismissals caused outrage among Guamanians and twelve of Guam's nineteen villages voted not to recognize the replacements. President Harry Truman ordered an investigation into the incident. Upon review, Truman ordered a transitional government created, and pressured Pownall to restore the Congressmen to their seats on April 2, 1948. In September 1949, administration of Guam was transferred to the United States Department of the Interior
. Under the new government, the Governor of Guam was appointed by the President. Truman appointed Carlton S. Skinner as Guam's first civilian Governor, replacing Pownall. Pownall was the last military governor of Guam.
Rear admiral (United States)
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. The uniformed services of the United States are unique in having two grades of rear admirals.- Rear admiral :...
in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
and Governor of Guam (May 30, 1946–September 27, 1949). He was the third military Governor and first naval Governor of Guam following the United States recapture of the island from the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese. After conflict with the Guam Congress in 1948, Pownall replaced many Congressmen with his own appointments, whom the Guamanians refused to recognize. The ensuing protest persuaded Truman to transfer control of the island away from the Navy. As a consequence, Charles Pownall was the last military governor of Guam.
Military service
USS Vedette (SP-163)
The first USS Vedette was a commercial yacht built in 1899. At the outbreak of World War I, the yacht was leased by the United States Navy, and was used as a patrol vessel in the North Atlantic Ocean. She served honorably during the war, rescuing survivors at sea, and attacking a German U-Boat...
and was awarded the Navy Cross; citation as follows:
"For distinguished service in the line of his profession as commanding officer of the USS Vedette, engaged in the important exacting and hazardous duty of transporting and escorting troops and supplies through waters infested with enemy submarines and mines".
During the 1920s, Lieutenant commander
Lieutenant commander (United States)
Lieutenant commander is a mid-ranking officer rank in the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, with the pay grade of O-4 and NATO rank code OF-3...
Pownall served as the first commanding officer of the USS John D. Ford
USS John D. Ford (DD-228)
USS John D. Ford was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for Rear Admiral John Donaldson Ford....
. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Pownall commanded the fast aircraft carrier task group TG or TF-50.1 in the South-East Asian theatre
South-East Asian theatre of World War II
The South-East Asian Theatre of World War II was the name given to the campaigns of the Pacific War in Burma , Ceylon, India, Thailand, Indochina, Malaya and Singapore. Conflict in the theatre began when the Empire of Japan invaded Thailand and Malaya from bases located in Indochina on December 8,...
, from the flagship USS Yorktown
USS Yorktown (CV-10)
USS Yorktown is one of 24 s built during World War II for the United States Navy. She is named after the Battle of Yorktown of the American Revolutionary War, and is the fourth U.S. Navy ship to bear the name...
. He was in command of Task Force 15 when it raided the Japanese positions on Tarawa in the Gilberts on 18 September 1943 in preparation for the allied invasion that would follow in November. After perceived lack of aggressiveness at Minami Torishima
Minami Torishima
or Marcus Island is an isolated Japanese coral atoll in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, located some SE of Tokyo and east of the closest Japanese island, South Iwo Jima of the Ogasawara Islands, and nearly on a straight line between Tokyo and Wake Island, which is east southeast...
, the Gilbert Islands
Gilbert Islands
The Gilbert Islands are a chain of sixteen atolls and coral islands in the Pacific Ocean. They are the main part of Republic of Kiribati and include Tarawa, the site of the country's capital and residence of almost half of the population.-Geography:The atolls and islands of the Gilbert Islands...
, and the Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands
The Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
, Admiral Nimitz ordered him replaced by Marc Mitscher
Marc Mitscher
Admiral Marc Andrew "Pete" Mitscher was an admiral in the United States Navy who served as commander of the Fast Carrier Task Force in the Pacific in the latter half of World War II.-Early life and career:...
.
Governorship
Pownall became military Governor of Guam on May 30, 1946. He helped organize much of the island's basic government, and also approved the flag of GuamFlag of Guam
The flag of the Territory of Guam was adopted on February 9, 1948. The territorial flag is dark blue with a narrow red border on all sides . In the center of the flag is the coat of arms; an almond shaped emblem, which depicts a proa sailing in Agana Bay near Hagåtña, and GUAM colored in red letters...
and the seal of Guam
Seal of Guam
The Seal of Guam appears in the middle of the flag of Guam. It depicts Agaña Bay near Hagåtña, a local proa and a palm tree. Charles Alan Pownall approved the seal in 1946....
.
Congressional walkout
In 1948, Pownall, along with the Secretary of the NavyUnited States Secretary of the Navy
The Secretary of the Navy of the United States of America is the head of the Department of the Navy, a component organization of the Department of Defense...
, gave the Guam Congress the power to create laws, pending the governor's approval. The Secretary of the Navy had the power to override a veto from either the Congress or the Governor. When the Guam Congress attempted to pass a law allowing them to subpoena
Subpoena
A subpoena is a writ by a government agency, most often a court, that has authority to compel testimony by a witness or production of evidence under a penalty for failure. There are two common types of subpoena:...
American citizens, Pownall vetoed it. Despite this, while investigating suspected abuses involving Americans owning businesses through Guamanian frontmen, the Congress subpoenaed Abe Goldstein over his involvement in a local women's clothing store. Citing Pownall's veto, Goldstein refused to testify. The Guam Congress cited Goldstein for contempt and issued a warrant for his arrest, but were stopped by Pownall.
When confronted, Pownall told Guam Speaker of the House Antonio Borja Won Pat
Antonio Borja Won Pat
Antonio Borja Won Pat was the first Delegate from Guam to the United States House of Representatives.He was born in Sumay, Guam, and worked as a teacher. He was first elected to the Advisory Guam Congress in 1936. In 1951 he became speaker of the Guam Assembly. In 1965 he was elected as a...
to leave the matter to him. When Pat passed on the information to the House Assembly, they became angered at Pownall's comments. Stirred by Pownall and with media support, the House resolved to pass a bill requesting citizenship for Guamanians, and decided not to reassemble until the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
had addressed the bill. On March 12, Pownall called a special joint session of Congress, but most Congressional members refused to attend. Pownell dismissed all those Congressmen who chose to break the law by not attending, and appointed replacements.
The dismissals caused outrage among Guamanians and twelve of Guam's nineteen villages voted not to recognize the replacements. President Harry Truman ordered an investigation into the incident. Upon review, Truman ordered a transitional government created, and pressured Pownall to restore the Congressmen to their seats on April 2, 1948. In September 1949, administration of Guam was transferred to the United States Department of the Interior
United States Department of the Interior
The United States Department of the Interior is the United States federal executive department of the U.S. government responsible for the management and conservation of most federal land and natural resources, and the administration of programs relating to Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native...
. Under the new government, the Governor of Guam was appointed by the President. Truman appointed Carlton S. Skinner as Guam's first civilian Governor, replacing Pownall. Pownall was the last military governor of Guam.