Naval History and Heritage Command

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Arthur Harold Ashton was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on December 17, 1907, son of Arthur Henry and Ella B. (Byers) Ashton, both now deceased. He attended high school in Wetherfield, Connecticut, prior to entering the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, on appointment from the State of Connecticut in 1926. He graduated on June 5, 1930, received his Bachelor of Science degree, but resigned from the Navy upon graduation, by reason of Physical disability. Thereafter he worked as an Underwriter for the Travelers Insurance Company of Hartford, Connecticut.

In April 1931 he enlisted as a Private in the Connecticut National Guard and served with the 122nd Cavalry. He was discharged in August 1933 to accept an appointment as Ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserve. He subsequently advanced in rank to that of Captain, to date from July 1, 1955, having transferred from the Naval Reserve to the Regular Navy in April 1947. Assigned in 1933 to the 19th Division, 5th Battalion at Hartford, he had duty as Executive Officer and from July 1936 until ordered into active Naval service was in command of that division.

Ordered into active Naval service in October 1940, he continued duty with the 19th Division, 5th Battalion until May 1941, when he reported for instruction at the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island. He completed the staff preparatory course there and from December 1941 to November 1944 served as Secretary and Chief Staff Officers on the Staffs of Commander Transport Divisions ONE, THREE and FIVE, attached to the transports McCauley, William T. Biddle, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll and Thomas Jefferson. While attached to those divisions, he participated in the amphibious landings at Fedala, Scoglitti, Salerno, Omaha Beach and Southern France. He received a Letter of Commendation, with authorization to wear the Commendation Ribbon and Combat “V,” from the Commander Naval Forces, Europe, and was cited as follows:

“Your performance of duty while serving on the Staff of Commander Transport Division THREE, prior to and during the period in which that division participated in the invasion of France in June 1944, has been brought to my attention. You exhibited extraordinary attention to detail, initiative and professional ability during planning stages and during the preparation and execution of this great operation and contributed materially to the smoothness and efficiency of the operation. This superior performance has been an outstanding example to others…”

From December 1944 until December 1945, he served as Combat Intelligence Officer at Headquarters of the Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, Navy Department, Washington, D.C., after which he had duty as Assistant Director of Naval Reserve in the First Naval District, headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.  After his transfer to the Regular Navy in the spring of 1947, he was designated a Special Duty Officer (Public Information) and in June of that year joined the Staff of Commander Naval Forces, Western Pacific, as Public Information Officer.

In May 1949 he reported as District Public Information Officer in the Eighth Naval District, with headquarters in New Orleans, Louisiana, and in July 1951 was assigned as Director of Public Information on the Staff of the Armed Forces Information School, Fort Slocum, New York. At that joint service school he served collaterally as the Commanding Officer of the Naval Administrative Unit. He was detached in April 1954, then served as the Administrative Officer and Director of Plans in the Office of Information, Navy Department.

In August 1956 he joined the Staff of the Commander in Chief Allied Forces, Southern Europe, with headquarters in Naples, Italy, as Force Public Information officer and in May 1959 transferred to the Staff of Commander Naval Support force, Antarctica, headquartered in Washington, D.C., to serve as Public Information Officer. In July 1961 he became Chief of Public Information on the Staff of the Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic and in April 1964 was ordered detached for duty in the Third Naval District, with headquarters in New York, New York.

In addition to the Commendation Ribbon with Combat “V,” Captain Ashton has the Naval Reserve Medal; American Defense Service Medal; American Campaign Medal; European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign medal with five engagement stars; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal; World War II Victory Medal; China Service Medal; and the National Defense Service Medal.

He died in Oneonta, New York on November 9, 1980. He was buried at sea.

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