Carl Owen Maddox

From the Record

Born in a small house on Drift Run; moved with his parents to Lockhart and then Ravenswood, Jackson County, West Virginia, then left for Washington County, Ohio, where he worked at the Remington Rand plant in Marietta. Drafted in World War II, he entered the U. S. Navy in March 1944 and was assigned to the Battleship U. S. S. West Virginia, BB-48 (the 'Wee Vee'); served in combat against the Japanese Navy in the battles of Leyte Gulf and Surigao Straights (where the West Virginia fired on and sank the Japanese battleship Yamashiro), Mindora, Luzon, Iwo Jima and Okinawa (where the ship was struck by a Japanese suicide plane on 1 April 1945, killing four crewmembers and wounding 23). His rank was 3rd Class Petty Officer, rate Electrician's Mate; honorably discharged 18 January 1946; awarded the Victory Medal, American Area Medal, Asiatic Pacific Medal with four stars and the Philippine Liberation Medal with two stars. Married by Earl Moore, Justice of the Peace, Gallipolis, Ohio.

After discharge he worked for the Remington Rand Company and as a welder and machinist for the Union Carbide Company; as of the document's writing he is retired and resides on the Maddox Family Farm in Barlow, Ohio, with his wife and children. Obituary (Cawley & Peoples Funeral Home, Barlow Chapel, Ohio): died at 87 on Friday, 20 November 2009, in Marietta, a resident of St. Rt. 550, Vincent, Ohio. A graduate of Ravenswood High School who had attended a trade school in Michigan for welding, he retired as a machinist from Union Carbide Metals, farmed, enjoyed traveling, and was a member of the Lighthouse Baptist Church.

Survived by his wife Edna (Ingraham) Maddox; son Jerry Maddox (Jennifer) of Vincent; daughter-in-law Norma Maddox of Vincent; grandchildren Zachary Maddox (Allison) of Parkersburg, West Virginia and Danielle Maddox of Vincent; brother James Ray Maddox (Betty) of Barlow; step-grandchildren Melissa Brookover, Scott Patterson and Lorrie Seevers; and one niece and one nephew. Preceded in death by his parents and by his son Rodney Carl Maddox. Funeral 23 November 2009 at the Barlow Chapel of Cawley & Peoples Funeral Home, Chuck Kiser and Dr. A. C. Smith officiating; burial in Barlow Central Cemetery. The obituary gives his mother's name as Laura Estella Robins Maddox (Robbins elsewhere).

From the Family Manuscript

• George and his wife lived for a short time in a small house on Drift Run, in this house on 15 September 1922, my father, Carl Owen Maddox was born. George, Laura and Carl moved to Lockhart, Jackson County, West Virginia. The family then moved to Ravenswood, Jackson County, West Virginia.

  Maddox Family History, transcript line 1982.

• Carl Owen Maddox 10 left Ravenswood and moved to Washington County, Ohio and in 1943, George and his wife moved to Washington County, Ohio. George lived on a farm on Route 50-A in Washington County, near Barlow, Ohio. Later this farm was sold and George moved to Belpre, Ohio. Carl Owen Maddox bought this farm and George and Laura moved back to the farm. At the time of their deaths, the mailing address for George and Laura was at the farm. George and Laura both were residents of the Harmer House Nursing Home in Marietta, Ohio at the time of their deaths. George died on 5 May 1976 and Laura died on 6 January 1977. Both George and Laura were buried in the Rockland Cemetery, Belpre, Washington County, Ohio.

  Maddox Family History, transcript line 1987.

• Carl Owen Maddox 10 was born on the 15th of September 1922 in a small house on Drift Run, Jackson County, West Virginia to George William9 and Laura Estella (Robbins) Maddox. Carl and his parents moved to Lockhart, Jackson County, West Virginia and later to Ravenswood, Jackson County, West Virginia.

  Maddox Family History, transcript line 2156.

• Carl left Jackson County, West Virginia and entered Washington County, Ohio. He worked at the Remington Rand plant in Marietta, Ohio. World War II had started and Carl was drafted in military service. Carl entered the U. S. Navy in March of 1944. After basic training he was assigned to the Battleship, U. S. S. West Virginia, BB-48.

  Maddox Family History, transcript line 2158.

• Carl served in combat actions against the Japanese Navy, in the battles of Leyte Gulf, Surigao Straights, in this battle the West Virginia fired on and sank a Japanese battleship, the Yamashiro, Mindora, Luzon, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. The West Virginia was struck by a Japanese suicide plane on 1 April 1945 at Okinawa, four crewmembers were killed and 23 were wounded. During the war, the West Virginia (called the “Wee Vee”) steamed underway for a total of 71,615 miles. During the last part of the war, the ship and crew were making plans for the invasion of mainland Japan. Carl’s rank was 3rd. class Petty Officer and his rate was Electrician’s Mate. Carl was discharged with an Honorable Discharge on the 18th day January 1946. Carl was awarded with the Victory Medal, American Area Medal, Asiatic Pacific Medal with four stars and the Philippine Liberation Medal with two stars.

  Maddox Family History, transcript line 2160.