In this picture Jesse is on the front row with his wife Mary Miller Carroll.
Behind them are their five children; from the left is Eugene Carroll, Jesse J. Carroll III, Kenneth Carroll, Michael Carroll and Susan Carroll Pope.
Jesse J. Carroll Jr., born 11-24-1927 in Calhoun County, AL. When it became time for starting school, we lived on a farm with Uncle Joe at Eastaboga (Bruna Valley). We moved in with George and Rose Laney (mother's papa and momma) in Trinity Community near Oxford. I attended first grade in a one-room church building along with students in other grades. We moved with them to Weaver, AL, regular school but still first grade. We then moved to 12th Street near Joe Carroll's grocery store, I attended Pine Street school, still in first grade. We then moved again into a store building on highway US 78 at Hunter Street my dad bought with his "pension" money from WW1. I continued 1st grade at Mechanicsville School. Failed 1st grade. Continued schooling at Mechanicsville. Later the school wanted to advance me two grades in one year. Daddy and mother would not agree to that. Graduated from 9th grade in 1945. My teacher, Mrs. McMinn, wanted me to promise her I would go on to high school. Graduated from Calhoun County High School in 1948. My daddy said: "First Carroll by name to finish high school". Registered for draft when I was 18, and was granted a deferment to complete high school.
When I was 15, during summer vacation, I enrolled in a machinist course with the National Youth Administration (NYA) at Auburn University, lying about my age. Supposed to be 16. I just never remembered to bring in my birth certificate for them. NYA closed before I could complete the machinist course. I wanted to go to Mobile and get a job in a shipyard. My daddy said: "Get your butt in that schoolhouse", which I did. During those later years at Mechanicsville and CCHS, I worked in my daddy's grocery store as his meat cutter, clerk, delivery boy and general all-around handy man. When he sold the grocery store, we moved into a regular house in Wayside Community, I worked with my daddy as a termite exterminator when not in school.
I joined the navy in August, 1948. Boot Camp in San Diego, Class A Yeoman School, San Diego. Naval Station, Guam. Transferred to Fleet Aircraft Service Squadron 119 (FASRON 119) on Saipan, MI and later at Sangley Point, Philippines. Served 28 months with FASRON 119 and earned Korean Service Medal. Advanced to YN3. Transferred to COMAIRPAC in San Diego. Attended and graduated from Uniform Code of Military Justice at Newport, RI. Transferred to shore duty with Director of Naval Intelligence, Washington, DC at the Pentagon. Advanced to YN2.
Married Mary E. Miller and first child, Susan Faye was born at Bethesda Naval Hospital. Upon completion of shore duty, was transferred to Office of Naval Material for duty at Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia. Was only enlisted (administration and voice radio operator) along with two officers who inspected and approved oil products purchased by Navy from ARAMCO. Advanced to YN1. Son, Michael Anthony was born while on duty in Saudi Arabia. He was born at the Naval Hospital, Tongue Point, OR.
In the picture below Left to Right are, Jesse J Carroll, Eugene Carroll, James Carroll, Shirley Carroll, Shirley Cambrom, Mary Carroll, Bill Griffin, Violet Griffin, Billy Carroll.
Transferred to Naval Station, SDiego for class B, Yeoman school. Requested to change my rating from Yeoman to Guided Missileman. Approved and transferred to Naval School Command, Treasure Island, San Francisco, CA for Class A ET School. Son Kenneth Wayne born 2 August 1957 at St. Francis Hospital, Lynnwood, CA. After a couple of months, not satisfied with my grades, I requested to return to fleet and duty as Yeoman. Transferred to Naval Amphibious Command, Special Projects Unit, SDiego. Assigned to Task Force 7 and proceeded to Aniwetok Atol in Pacific for participation in Operation HARDTACK 58. (Atomic tests).Son Jesse Joseph III was born 13 September 1958 in civilian hospital, San Diego, CA.
Transferred to Naval Weapons Station, Charleston, SC for shore duty. Daddy died while I was on duty there. I requested duty closer to home and was transferred to Naval Reserve Station, Huntsville, AL and later when yeoman at the Naval Unit, US Army Chemical Corps School, Fort McClellan, AL was transferred, I requested a no cost transfer to replace him. My request was granted.
I was advanced to YNC at Fort McClellan where son Eugene Wesley was born on 20 November 1959 at civilian hospital, Anniston, AL.
In 1963, transferred to sea duty aboard USS RICHARD B. ANDERSON (DD 786), home ported at SDiego, CA. My first ship-board duty in 14 years Navy. Made two 6-month tours in Pacific. First tour in 1964, ship was on patrol duty off Vietnam when torpedo boats attacked two other ships also on patrol duty. I was the Captain's Talker at General Quarters and he requested several times from Task Force Commander permission to join in the battle with the torpedo boats. The commander finally sent him a message, "You have been assigned a station, maintain it". So, my ship missed out on the battle that started the Vietnam War.....After another tour and three years sea duty aboard ANDERSON, earning Vietnam Service Medal (1966), I was transferred to shore duty to the Naval Scientific and Technical Intelligence Center, at the US Naval Observatory, Washington, DC. I requested retirement from the Navy effective February, 1968. (19 years, 6 months and 1 day = 20 years)
Moved back to Anniston, AL and in August 1968, went to work at Redstone Arsenal, AL as a computer operator on midnight shift. Moved to Arab, AL
About 1970/71, attended and graduated from JF Drake State Technical School, Huntsville, AL Computer Programming Course. Later, still on midnight shift, enrolled at Sneed State Junior College extension classes at Arab High School. After graduating Sneed, enrolled in Montevalto State College extension courses, also at Arab High School. Completed my third year college. Unable to attend last year college classes because last year at Montevalto required on-campus classes and I could not do that working midnight shift at Redstone Arsenal.
In August 1979, resigned at Redstone and went to work for US Military Sealift Command, Bayonne, NJ as a yeoman/storekeeper. Later was promoted to Junior Purser. Served on several ships, supplying oil and supplies to US Navy ships and activities in Europe, Mediterranean, and Indian Ocean. After about two years of being gone from home most of the time, quit and returned to Arab. Employed by Eaton Corporation, Arab, AL for about 12 years - RETIRED.
Gene Carroll
By James Carroll
I remember Gene as a Young man ,tall, blond and handsome with a ready and somewhat easy laugh. Gene called us every so often and we were always glad to hear from him. He cheered us up with his good since of humor. We loved him as we do the other children of Jesse and Mary. My son Randy expressed his remorse and ask me to convey the same to Mary and family as he is working out of town this week.
I hope to be feeling better by the first Saturday in July when I hope to see you all at Graveyard Working.