Captain Alvin Ingersol Malstrom

Captain Alvin Ingersol Malstrom was the first commanding officer of the U.S.S. Tarawa (CV-40), taking over upon the commissioning of the ship on 8 December 1945 at Portsmouth, Virginia.

The new skipper was born in Tacoma, Washington, on 3 March 1900, the son of Gustav Adolph Malstrom and Harriet Elizabeth (Schreyer) Malstrom. He attended Stadium High School in Tacoma, prior to entering the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, in 1918 upon appointment from his native state.

As a midshipman, he participated in fencing and in 1921 was Intercollegiate Saber Champion. Graduated and commissioned Ensign 3 June 1922, he subsequently progressed in rank, attaining that of Captain, to date from 21 June, 1942. On 30 June 1952 he was transferred to the Retired List of the U.S. Navy and was advanced to the rank of Rear Admiral on the basis of a combat award.

Following graduation from the Naval Academy in 1922, he reported on board the U.S.S. New York and in March 1929 was detached from the battleship to return to the Naval Academy where he had duty in connection with the Olympic Games. He remained there until June of that year, and after flight training at the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida, was designated a Naval Aviator, 18 March 1925.

Four months later he was assigned to Aircraft Squadrons, Battle Fleet, and in October 1925 joined Observor Squadron One, based consecutively on board the battleships Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Colorado. In September 1927, he transferred to Observation Squadron Two-B, attached to the U.S.S. Tennessee.

Returning to the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, in July 1928, he served as an instructor there until June 1930 when he was assigned to Scouting Squadron Eight, operating off the U.S.S. Jason, a unit of the Asiatic Fleet. In July 1932 he reported for duty with Patrol Squadron Four-B (later redesigned Patrol Squadron Four-F) based at the Fleet Air Force Base, Territory of Hawaii, and from June 1935 to June 1937 served with Scouting Squadron Two-B, attached to the U.S.S. Saratoga.

He next joined the Staff of Commander Cruiser Division Three, Cruisers, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet, U.S.S. Concord flagship, and while in that assignment had additional duty in command of Scouting Squadron Six-B (one month) and Cruiser Scouting Squadron Three.

In October 1937 he transferred to the Staff of Commander Cruisers, Battle Force, U.S.S. Trenton flagship, to serve until June 1938, with additional duty as Wing Commander and Commanding Officer of Cruiser Scouting Squadron Two. While in that assignment, he participated in the cruise of the U.S.S. Trenton, accompanied by the cruisers Milwaukee and Memphis, to Sydney, Australia, for the Sesquicentennial there in January 1938; in February of that year he attended the formal opening of the drydock at Singapore Naval Base. The group then returned to the United States by way of Palawan, Manila, Guam and Hawaii.

In July 1938 he was assigned to the Fleet Air Base (redesignated Naval Air Station in October 1939) Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, where he remained until July 1940. He then joined the U.S.S. Lexington, serving as her navigator from November 1940 to May 1941, when he reported as Air Officer on board the U.S.S. Enterprise. He was serving in that aircraft carrier when the United States entered World War II, December 8, 1941. He subsequently participated in the raids on the Gilbert, Marshall, Wake and Marcus Islands and in the Battle of Midway. He is entitled to the Ribbon for the Presidential Unit Citation awarded to the U.S.S. Enterprise.

Detached from the Enterprise in June 1942, Malstrom next had duty in connection with the conversion of the U.S.S. Chenango at Staten Island, New York, and joined that escort aircraft carrier as Executive Officer upon her commissioning, September 19, 1942. Two months later the Chenango sailed from the East Coast for French Morocco, North Africa, her decks packed with planes (Warhawks) to be assigned to the airfield at Port Lyautey. She launched her planes off the coast of French Morocco without a single accident. On her return trip to the United States, she was badly damaged during a hurricane and upon her arrival at Portsmouth, Virginia, underwent repairs.

Malstrom served as Naval Attache for Air and Assistant Naval Attache at the American Embassy, London, England, during the period from January to December 1943, then reported as Chief of Staff and Aide to the Commander Fleet Air, Alameda, with headquarters at the Naval Air Station, Alameda, California.

On February 3, 1945, he assumed command of the U.S.S. Sangamon at Bremerton, Washington, and proceeded to the Pacific war area where, under his command, that escort carrier participated in the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto.

On May 4, 1945, the Sangamon was hit by a Japanese Kamikaze plane that exploded in the center of her flight deck. "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity...during operations against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of Okinawa on May 4, 1945..." he was awarded the Silver Star Medal. The citation further states, in part:

"When his ship was severely damaged by an enemy suicide plane and raging fires broke out on the hangar deck and among gassed and armed planes on the flight deck, Captain Malstrom directed the fire-fighting operations from the bridge until the island structures were enveloped in flames, causing intense heat and suffocating smoke. Beset by darkness, low water pressure caused by broken risers and temporary loss of electrical power, as well as by complete absence of communications, he continued to direct overall fire-fighting activities which resulted in the saving of his ship....."

He was awarded the Purple Heart Medal for wounds received in enemy action on May 4, 1945 and is entitled to the Ribbon for the Presidential Unit Citation awarded the U.S.S. Sangamon.

Detached from the Sangamon in August 1945, he next had duty in connection with the fitting out of the U.S.S. Tarawa at the Norfolk Naval Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia, and assumed command of that aircraft carrier upon her commissioning, December 8, 1945. He commanded the Tarawa until March 1947, after which he had duty as a member of the Board of Decorations and Medals, Navy Department, Washington, D.C.

From 1948 to 1950, Malstrom was commanding officer, Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida.

Under orders of March 30, 1950, he was assigned to the Office of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Air), Navy Department, where he served as Progress and Statistics Officer (title later changed to Progress Review Officer) until relieved of all active duty pending his retirement, effective June 30, 1952.

After his retirement, Admiral Malstrom lived in Washington, D.C., the hometown of his wife, the former Miss Carol Lowrey Moore, whom he had married in 1929. The couple had three daughters, Joan Moore, Ann Lowrey and Diane Carol.

Shipmate, a Naval Academy publication, notes that "following retirement he studied atomic and nuclear physics at Portland College and Catholic University and took a great interest in nutrition and health-awareness activities. He served for many years on the board of governors of the National Health Federation and lectured widely on related topics".

Admiral Malstrom died on 3 February 1978, in Phoenix, Arizona. On 10 April a memorial service was held in the Fort Myer Chapel. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

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