Presentation Date: March 26, 2015
Charles F. Charlie Jarrett, United States Navy
Charlie Jarrett was born in December 1939 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
His original parents were at one time professional entertainers in Las Vegas.
Charlie’s initial military background began with his mother placing him in Mount Lowe Military Academy in Altadena, California from age 8 to age 10 in 1947 and in 1949.
He joined his mother and her new husband, Donald A. Gray, who in WWII had been a SeaBees officer in the Pacific Operation. After his discharge from active duty, he became a hydro engineer at Hoover (formerly “Boulder”) Dam.
While Charlie was in high school in Klamath Falls, Oregon, he joined the ROTC and then the Naval Reserves. Upon graduation from Klamath Union High School in August 1958, he went on active duty and reported for training at the Naval Recruit Training Center in San Diego, California.
In November 1958, he was assigned to Beach Jumper Unit One at NAVAMPHIBASE at Coronado, California and advanced from Seaman Apprentice to Seaman in April 1959.
After completing Yeoman (YN) 3 and 2 classes in March 1959, Charlie prepared for Westpac duty.
In July 1960, he reported to Beach Jumper Unit One, Team 12 at Yokosuka, Japan. Charlie served in operations as necessary (including several secret ones) until his release from active duty in August 1962.
He then returned to Las Vegas, Nevada to attend UNLV and studied business administration.