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.
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.
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.
Carl married Edna L. Ingraham on the 26th day of October 1942 in Gallipolis, Ohio. They were married by Earl Moore, Justice of the Peace, Gallipolis, Ohio. Edna L. Ingraham was the daughter of James LeRoy “Roy” Ingraham (5 December 1897-4 July 1970) and Lucy (Noland) Ingraham (16 August 1896-1April 1966), both parents are buried in the Barker Cemetery, Lower Newport, Washington County, Ohio.
After Carl was discharged, he returned to Washington County, Ohio. He worked for the Remington Rand Company, Marietta, Ohio and as a welder and machinist for the Union Carbide Company, Washington County, Ohio. Carl is now retired and resides on the Maddox Family Farm in Barlow, Ohio, with his wife and children.
Edna L. (Ingraham) Maddox retired from the Warren Local District, where she served as a secretary at the Barlow-Vincent Elementary School.