Roll Call Tribute

Published in The Washington (DC) Post on June 25, 2009

George L. Cassell


CASSELL GEORGE L. CASSELL REAR ADMIRAL, USN (Ret.) Rear Admiral George L. Cassell, USN (Ret.) made his last takeoff on Thursday, March 19, March 2009. He is survived by his beloved wife of 65 years, Ellen Yates Cassell; his two daughters, Patricia Cassell Smith and Nancy Cassell Penoff; three grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. Burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery on June 30 at 3 p.m. During WWII, Admiral Cassell flew 43 combat missions from USS Yorktown (CV-10), while attached to Fighting Squadron THREE. At the time, he was among the first carrierbased night fighter pilots flying the F6F Hellcat. After WWII, he commanded Attack Squadron 126 (F7U-3 Cutlass), USS Nitro (AE-23) and the USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) - the latter for an 11month deployment in the waters off Viet Nam. He had duty on the staff of Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, the staff of Office of the Chief of Navel Operations, and the staff of the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet. In 1968 he was selected for Flag rank and was assigned as the Deputy Commander, Naval Striking and Support Forces, Southern Europe in Napes, Italy. In October 1971, he commanded Antisubmarine Warfare Group TWO on board USS Wasp (CVS-18), and later Antisubmarine Warfare Group FOUR on board the USS Intrepid (CVS-11). He then became Commander Fleet Air Quonset Point and Commander Hunter-Killer Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. His next and final duty was Commandant EIGHTH Naval District, over specified activities, as well as areas coordination over all shore activities within the geographical limits of Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Louisiana. After temporary assignment to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, he retired in September 1977 as the Grey Eagle. His awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, four Legions of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism and extraordinary achievement against Japanese forces, the Presidential Unit Citation, and the Navy Unit Commendation. Rear Admiral Cassell was a member of the Golden Eagles Association.His awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, four Legions of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism and extraordinary achievement against Japanese forces, the Presidential Unit Citation, and the Navy Unit Commendation. Rear Admiral Cassell was a member of the Golden Eagles Association.