Captain Faddis

CAPT. JAMES M. FADDIS (RET)CAREER NAVAL OFFICERCaptain James M. Faddis, U.S. Navy, (Ret), formerly of Wind Ridge, Pa. died at 10:30 p.m., Sunday, August 19, 2007 in the South River Nursing and Rehab Center, Edgewater, MD.He was born July 25, 1922 in Waynesburg, Pa. a son of the late Congressman Charles I. Faddis and Jane Morris Faddis and had resided in Wind Ridge for the past several years.Captain Faddis was a graduate of Waynesburg High School and attended prep school at Washington and Jefferson College in Washington, Pa. prior to entering the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. in July 1941 and graduating in June 1944 and also was a graduate of the Naval War College in 1957.He was a 30 year veteran of the U. S. Navy, serving from 1944 until retiring in 1974 having served at the end of WW II, the Korean and Viet Nam Wars. He received the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Navy Unit Commendation, Atlantic and Pacific Theater Ribbons, Philippines Liberation, WW II Victory Medal, Occupation Medal, Korean Medal, Expeditionary Medal and the China Service Medal.Upon graduation from the Academy, he was ordered to duty in the Amphibious Forces. He commanded the USS LCS (L) (3) 83 in the Pacific Fleet and participated in the Okinawa Campaign. On return to the US, in April 1946, he was ordered to command the USS LCS (L) (3) 125 in the Atlantic Fleet.In November 1946, he reported to the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) School in Indian Head, MD. Upon graduation, in April 1947, he was ordered to the staff of Commander Marianas on Guam for duty as Ordnance Disposal Officer. He participated in EOD operations on Guam, Pelelieu, Kwajalein, Saipan, and Pagan Island until September 1948.Successive tours of duty followed as Gunnery Officer of the USS Orleck (DD886) and USS Cunningham (DD752) during the Korean War, instructor in the Department of Marine Engineering at the US Naval Academy, and Assistant Operations Officer on the staffs of the Commander Destroyer Flotilla Four and the Commander Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean.Following graduation from the Command and Staff course of the Naval War College in 1957, he served in the Continental Logistics Plans Branch of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, then as Executive Officer of the USS Mullany (DD528) and Commanding Officer of the USS Uhlmann (DD687). He joined the staff of the Naval Command Course of the Naval War College in August 1962, where he served until assuming command of the USS Arcadia (AD23) in July 1965.In 1966 Captain Faddis was assigned as Chief of Staff to Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Force Atlantic Fleet in Charleston, S. Carolina. In 1968 he was transferred to the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington, D.C. From August 1968 to June 1971 he was assigned back to Charleston, SC as Commander Destroyer Squadron Six. From June 1971 through June 1974, he was ordered to Bangkok, Thailand where he was on the staff of Commander Military Assistance Command after which he retired on July 30, 1974.He enjoyed gardening, raising flowers and small engine repair and was a ten year member of the Richhill Twp. V.F.D. in Wind Ridge.On November 28, 1952 he married Violet K. Tucker who died November 9, 2003.Surviving are three sons, Michael, husband of Kathleen Faddis of Albany, N.Y., Samuel, husband of Gina Faddis of Davidsonville, MD. and Matthew, husband of Lyly Faddis of Burke, VA.; one sister, Gertrude Weber of Bethlehem, Pa.; seven grandchildren; three great grandchildren.Deceased in addition to his wife are a son, Gerald Faddis; a grandson, Stephen Faddis; a brother, George Faddis and a sister, Lucille Hawkins.Graveside military rites will be accorded by the US Navy with assistance from the American Legion Post 330, V.F.W. Post 4793 and D.A.V. Post 123 all of Waynesburg, Pa. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Purple Heart Service Foundation, PO Box 9618, Washington D.C. 20077-7388.