Gerald Carney

Gerald Francis Carney, age 95 of New Hampton, passed away Tuesday, May 27, 2014 surrounded by his family. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 2, 2014, at Holy Family Church, New Hampton with Rev. Mark Osterhaus celebrating the Mass. The pall will be placed by Gerald’s grandchildren. Lectors for the service will be Dr. Patrick Carney, Amy Sandell and Bryon Carney. Presenting the offertory gifts will be Megan Blackwood, Carly Lepore, Bronte Carney and Peyton Carney. Jim Carney, Chuck Carney, Mike Carney, Nate Carney, Chris Carney and Jeff Sandell will serve as pallbearers. Full Military Honors by the Fae Stine American Legion and VFW Post #38 will be conducted immediately following the service at the church. Friends may greet the family 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. Sunday, June 1, 2014, at the St. Joseph Gathering Space with 5:30 p.m. scripture service. Visitation continues an hour prior to the Mass at the St. Joseph Gathering Space on Monday. Gerald was born May 6, 1919 to Harry James Carney and Lena Hanna Carney in New Hampton, Iowa. He attended St. Joseph Elementary School and graduated from New Hampton High School in 1937. He was the recipient of National Achievement Honor Roll and elected to athletics Hall of Fame. Gerald is a graduate of Iowa State University, Northwestern Midshipman School, Post Graduate School United States Naval Academy and General Line School, Newport, Rhode Island. Gerald was a career naval officer entering the Navy August 1940 and serving 25 years. Sixteen of those years were at sea on heavy cruisers and aircraft carriers from Pearl Harbor to Japan. The campaigns were all in the South Pacific. The operations included the Coral Sea, Battle of Midway, Guadalcanal-Tulagi, Solomons, Leyte Attacks, Luzon Attacks, Formosa Operations, China Coast Attacks, Assault and Occupation of Iwo Jima and 3rd Fleet Operations against Japan. He was aboard the famed USS Lexington “ The Blue Ghost”. The ship is currently a museum in Corpus Christi, Texas. He was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat V, American Defense with 1 star, Asiatic-Pacific Area with 2 silver stars, Philippine Campaign with 2 stars, World War II Victory, Korean Service and United Nations Service. During the battle near Tulagi, his ship was hit by a torpedo (as he described it ) “ it left a hole a semi could drive through”--he was the only officer overseeing 125 men when ordered to take them ashore where there was no shelter available and they were sent to an area with only trees to cover and all became extremely ill with amoebic dysentery. He was offered an opportunity to return to the states, but he refused and stayed with his men. Following World War II, he served as director of all Naval ROTC units for the Bureau of Naval Personnel, Executive Officer of the USS Deuel APA 160, Commanding Officer of the destroyer USS Harry E Hubbard DD748 and Commanding Officer of the US Naval Station, San Miguel Philippines. His final tour was on the Staff of the Joint Chiefs of Staff where he testified before Congress on behalf of the Navy. On July 15, 1947, Gerald married Patricia Roark in Mt. Carmel Church, Lawler, IA. To this union three children were born: Dr. Patrick Carney, Clear Lake, IA, Amy Carney Sandell of Chandler, AZ and Bryon Roark Carney of Scottsdale, AZ. Upon retirement from the Navy, he became a partner and owner in Carney and Carney Insurance Agency in New Hampton. He was a member of Holy Family Church - St Joseph Center, American Legion. Elks Organization where he served as trustee for many years. Industrial Commission , New Hampton Golf and Country Club where he served as trustee and officer. He began the first Blood Bank in New Hampton and the family did the original organization until it was sponsored. He was an avid bird hunter and trap shooter in all parts of the United States and was constantly on the search of a “good” golf game. Some of those pleasures were shortened by immobility in 1993. He entered Linn Haven Rehab and Healthcare Facility in 2010 and accepted his immobility with no complaints. His family will always be grateful to the staff at Linn Haven and Bob Hackman for their kindness, patience and caring. He is survived by his wife, Pat; two sons, Dr. Patrick (Kathy) Carney of Clear Lake, IA and Bryon Carney of Scottsdale, AZ; one daughter, Amy (Dean) Sandell of Chandler, AZ; seven grandchildren, Megan (Brian) Blackwood, Nate (Andrea) Carney, Chris (Nikki) Carney, Carly (Jared) Lepore, Jeff Sandell, Bronte Carney and Peyton Carney; seven great grandchildren, Hannah and Stella Blackwood, Hudson, Finn and Laken Carney, Colton and Harper Carney; and two sisters, Rosemary(Lex) Hawkins and Joyce (Wayne) Snyder . He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Lena Carney; a brother, Harry Carney, Jr.; and a sister, Jeanne Carney Woodrow. If so desired, memorials may be made to US Navy Memorial, Washington DC or St. Joseph Community School in New Hampton, IA.