George Grandchamp HALVORSON

   Another name for George was George G. HALVORSON.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Census: Minneapolis (Districts 251-266) > District 266, 1930, Hennepin County, MN. line 68

273 275 Halvorson, George 40 MN Norway MN
--- Mary 32 MI Canada Canada
--- George 10 MN
--- Mary A 6 MN
--- John 5 MN

[page 34 of 49]

• Military Service: US Navy.
Rear Admiral Halvorson was a member of the US Naval Academy class of 1942. He served throughout WWII in the heavy cruiser SALT LAKE CITY CA25. He received postgraduate training at the Naval Postgraduate School, at the California Institute of Technology, and at the Naval War College.

During his naval career he commanded the destroyer POWER DD-839, Destroyer Division 172, and the guided-missile cruiser TOPEKA CLG-8. Shore assignments included duty in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations; the Join Staff, Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; in the Bureau of Naval Weapons; and in the Naval Ordnance System Command, where he was Deputy Commander for Undersea Warfare Systems and Manager of the Mark 48 torpedo program. Admiral Halvorson's association with the Navy's advanced ship development programs began in 1972, when he became Coordinator for Surface Ship Acquisition in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.

In that assignment he was responsible for overall planning and coordination of new ship programs which included the development of hydrofoils, air cushion craft and surface effect ship. During that period he served for two years as Chairman of the Joint US/German/Italian Steering Committee which supervised the development of the NATO hydrofoil patrol craft (PHM).

After retiring from active duty in 1974, he worked with Rohr Industries as Group Manager of Test and Evaluation for Rohr Marine Inc.'s 3,000-ton Surface Effect Ship Program.
[http://ussslcca25.com/halvorson.htm]

USS TOPEKA (CL-67/CLG-8)
CLASS - CLEVELAND
Displacement 10,000 Tons, Dimensions, 610' 1" (oa) x 66' 4" x 25' (Max)
Armament 12 x 6"/47, 12 x 5"/38AA, 28 x 40mm, 10 x 20mm, 4 Aircraft
Armor, 5" Belt, 6" Turrets, 2" Deck, 5" Conning Tower.
Machinery, 100,000 SHP; Geared Turbines, 4 screws
Speed, 32.5 Knots, Crew 1255.
Operational and Building Data
Keel laid on 21 APR 1943 by the Bethlehem Steel Co. yard located at Quincy, MA
Launched 19 AUG 1944
Commissioned 23 DEC 1944
Decommissioned 18 JUN 1949
Reclassified CLG-8 23 MAY 1957
Commissioned 26 MAR 1960
Decommissioned 05 JUN 1969
Stricken 01 SEP 1973

Commanding Officer
Halvorson, George Grandchamp, CAPT RADM 11/24/67 - 06/05/69

• Military Service: decommission of ship TOPEKA, 1969. FROM CAPTAIN HALVORSON

In Previous editions of "The Plainsman" I have usually use this page to review what have we accomplished, why we are here now, and what is our next job? In this final edition I would like to stick with the same theme, but in a more philosophical context.

Our ship, TOPEKA, will soon be decommissioned for a second time. In these times of tight budgets, personal shortages and busy operating schedules, to most people this event may have only a passing interest. But for those who have served in her decommissioning is more than merely laying up an inanimate ship -- for them it marks and end of an era.

Since being commissioned as a guided missile cruiser in March 1960 TOPEKA has steamed close to a million miles. She has served in both the Pacific and Atlantic fleets She has made four WestPac and two Mediterranean deployments She has met the enemy in Vietnam and has always stood ready to serve out country when needed. Throughout her career she has always set an example of high reliability and excellence in performance.

This record of accomplishment of course is a testimony to our professionalism of hundreds of officers and thousands of sailors who have manned the TOPEKA over the years. Working together is an ever changing, but unbroken team these men have. kept the ship a superb fighting unit, traveling with her throughout the world discharging her commitments, and sharing her experiences both good and bad. This quality of team -- spirit and pride-in-the-unit belongs to the individuals who man the ship, but it focuses on the ship itself. It is "esprit de corps".

Now. that the ship is to be deactivated the focal point of our esprit de corps is being taken away. But remember, it is only the inanimate ship that is being deactivated - not you who have manned her. You are all moving on to new and more. challenging assignments most of the on other ships in the fleet. As you move on you can look back with pride on your accomplishments in TOPEKA and with fond memories of the experiences you shares with your shipments in her. You must also do the same professional job on your next ship. With this positive approach you will soon find your place on the new team and again share that team spirit and pride in your ship that makes the Navy the best in the world.

Finally, I wish to thank each and everyone of you for your superb support to me and for the pleasure of your personal friendship. It has been a great privilege to be your Captain.

Captain George G. Halvorson, USN
Commanding Officer


[http://www.usstopekaclg8.org/History/DeCom/P02_Halvorson.htm]

• Obituary, 1978, San Diego County, CA. REAR ADM. GEORGE HALVORSON DIES
From San Diego Area obituaries

Retired Read Adm. George G. Halvorson of 1781 Calle Delicada, La Jolla, died Tues., Jul 4, 1978 in Grand Rapids, Mn. He was 68 [58] and the eldest son of Peter G. Halvorson, a native of Peterson and a great grandson of of [sic] the founder of Peterson.

Adm. Halvorson was born in Nashwauk, Minn., graduated from Naval Academy in 1942. During World War II, he served in the Pacific theatre. After the war, he attended Cal Tech and in 1947 received an advanced degree in engineering. Later working in the office of the chief of naval operations at White Sands Proving Grounds in Mew [New] Mexico. From 1955 thru 59, he worked on the original Polaris, missile project. In 1962 he worked in the missile guidance and control division of the naval weapons dept. In 1965, he was a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and two year later was the commanding officer of the cruiser Topeka.

From 1969 to 1972, he worked in the office of the chief of naval operations in Washington, D.C. Two year later, Adm. Halvorson directed the advanced ship type development and was program coordinator of surface ship acquisition. In 1974, he retired from the Navy and moved to San Diego. He was employed at Rohr as group manager of testing and evaluation until 1978. During his military career, Adm. Halvorson received two Legion of Merit awards; a Distinguished Service Medal; a Bronze Star; and several Navy commendations, including a Navy unit commendation and a National defense Service Medal. He was a member of the Naval Academy Alumni Assoc., and Naval Architects and Marine Engineers.

He is survived by his wife, the former Mildred Henry; three daughters, Mrs. Mary Patricia Schollen, El Cajon; Jane Louise Halvorson, Escondido and Christine E. Halvorson of La Jolla; two sons, George H. of Columbia, Mass. And John H. La Jolla; a sister and a brother and five grandchildren.

His body lay in state at Pacific Beach Mortuary until services were held July 10, 1978 from Naval Training Center North Chapel, followed by burial in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery.

• Cemetery: Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, 1978, San Diego County, CA. GEORGE G.
HALVORSON
RADM
US NAVY
WORLD WAR II
KOREA
VIETNAME
DEC 1, 1919
JUL 4, 1978

Burial:
Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery
San Diego
San Diego County
California, USA
Plot: A-H, 70

George married Mildred Patricia HENRY, daughter of Floyd William HENRY and Myrtle Anna SAVOR, on 13 May 1944 in Itasca County, MN.¹ (Mildred Patricia HENRY was born on 23 Oct 1920 in St. Louis County, MN ⁴ and died on 23 Mar 1992 in San Diego County, CA ⁵.)