Commander Charles Thomas Edson

Charles Thomas Edson, 76, a long-time resident of Diamondhead, died peacefully on October 25 at Gulfport Memorial Hospital. Charles was born December 15, 1932 in Annapolis, Maryland. He was a life-long Catholic and had attended the Annunciation Church, Kiln. He enlisted in the Naval Reserve in 1949, and just prior to entering the U. S. Naval Academy in 1951, he had attended the Bullis Preparatory School. He received a Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering from the Naval Academy, graduating with the class of 1955. He also received a Master of Arts in Management and Supervision from Central Michigan University in 1976. Commander Edson’s sea duty in the Navy included service on the USS Wallace L. Lind as Anti-Submarine Officer/Weapons Officer; Executive Officer, USS Observer; Executive Officer, USS James C. Owens; and Operations Officer, USS Albany. Because of his Spanish language fluency, in 1961 Commander Edson was assigned duty in Mexico and became the first Naval Academy Exchange Instructor worldwide. Assigned to the Mexican Naval Academy at Veracruz, he set up, organized and led its English Department from 1961 - 1964. For his service, he was awarded the Mexican Meritorious Teaching Medal, the only U. S. citizen to have received this award at that time. From 1965 – 1968, he was Chief of Navy Information, Office of the Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs.) In 1969, Commander Edson served as Commander, Maritime Operations Group, U. S. Naval Advisory Detachment, Da Nang, Republic of Vietnam where he received many awards and commendations. In 1970 he served as Plans Officer for the Office of Navy Information, and in 1971, he was assigned duty as United States Adviser to the Argentine Naval War College, Buenos Aires. In 1974 he became Assistant Deputy Director, Plans and Policy for Military Equal Opportunity in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (Manpower and Reserve Affairs.) Because of his extensive experience in multinational operations, primarily in Latin America, after his Pentagon assignment he was assigned to the Inter-American Defense Board in Washington where he was Executive Assistant to the Director of the International Staff, from which he retired. Among Commander Edson’s many awards are the Bronze Star Medal with Combat ‘V’, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with Combat ‘V’, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star, Vietnamese Armed Forces Honor Medal First Class, Vietnamese Navy Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with Bronze Star, National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star, Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Combat Action Ribbon. Charlie, as he was affectionately known, was an avid tennis player and world traveler all his life, hobbies which he continued in his retirement. He was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Vice Admiral and Mrs. Stephen Reuben Edson of Washington, D. C.; a beloved brother, Commander Stephen Reuben Edson, Jr. of Shell Landing, Gautier who preceded him in death by two days; and another beloved brother, James Frederick Edson and his wife, Gwendolyn, of Kensington, MD. He will be sadly missed and dearly remembered by his remaining siblings, Peter John Edson, Washington, D. C.; Mary DePrisco and her husband Louis of Naples, FL; Alice Edson Grady of Diamondhead, and his many nieces and nephews. Visitation will be at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, October 28 followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. at Annunciation Catholic Church, 5370 Kiln-Delisle Road, Kiln, MS. Commander Edson will receive full military honors at a ceremony after the Mass. He will be cremated, and a private burial at a later time will be at Biloxi National Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to a reception immediately following the Mass and ceremony at 6860 Awini Court, Diamondhead, MS. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial donations in his name to Mississippi Vietnam Veterans Memorial Committee, Inc., P. O. Box 721, Biloxi, MS 39533-0721. Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home,15th Street, Gulfport is in charge of arrangements. View and sign the register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com.