Chief Electrician's Mate

UNITED STATES NAVY

Roscoe Cleveland Pennington was born on October 3, 1924, in Fort Worth, Tex., the son of Mr. and Mrs. Willie Pennington, now deceased.  He spent his early boyhood in Fort Worth and attended local public schools there prior to entering the naval service in January 1943.

A veteran of 20 years service, Roscoe was assigned to submarine duty during World War II, and participated in six war patrols in the submarines U.S.S. Sea Dragon (SS 194), and U.S.S. Spikefish (SS 404).  He also served in the U.S.S. Sea Dog (SS 401), U.S.S. Tilefish (SS 307), U.S.S. Cusk (SS 348), U.S.S. Chivo (SS 341) and U.S.S. Ronquil (SS 396), and saw service in the Pacific area during the Korean conflict.

In May 1960, Roscoe was assigned to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, where he served as electrical division chief.  With the introduction of nuclear power to the submarine force, Chief Pennington was one of the first to be selected to attend the various nuclear power schools, both military and civilian.  In June 1961, after completing nuclear power training, he was assigned as leading chief reactor technician in the U.S.S. Thresher (SSN 593), and in September of the same year he was sent to the David Taylor Model Basin in Washington, where he assisted in evaluating his ship's performance.

Because of his outstanding performance of duty as a submariner, and his knowledge of the submarine nuclear power program, Chief Pennington was selected to join a group to represent the submarine force in the form of a motivation team.  The team toured the country to inform high school students of the opportunities available to them in the Navy's nuclear power program.

During his 20 years of service, Chief Pennington was awarded the Submarine Combat Pin, Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Medal, American Theater Medal, American Defense Service Medal, Navy Occupation Medal with Asia Clasp; and the Korean Service Medal.  He was also entitled to wear the National Defense Service Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.

Chief Pennington is survived by his wife, Mrs. Doris V. Graham Pennington of Charlotte, N.C., and a son, Gregory by a previous marriage.