Captain Geoffrey Edmund Carlisle: U.S. Navy Legal Officer and Bronze Star Recipient

Captain Geoffrey Edmund Carlisle (1915–?) was a distinguished U.S. Navy officer and lawyer whose career spanned World War II and the Korean War, notably serving as a Legal Officer in combat and specializing in international law for the Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps.

Born Geoffrey Edmund Carlisle on October 3, 1915, in Mt. Hope, Kansas, he first established himself in the legal profession. He graduated from Washburn University (Topeka, Kansas) with both a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1939 before practicing law in Kansas.

He entered the U.S. Naval Reserve as a Midshipman on February 1, 1943. He was commissioned as an Ensign in May 1943, transferred to the Regular U.S. Navy in 1946, and was ultimately promoted to the rank of Captain on July 1, 1959.

⚓ Key Naval Assignments and Billets

Captain Carlisle held various legal, instructional, and staff roles throughout his naval career.

Assignment Role/Title Dates/Context
World War II Instructor in Naval Ordnance and Gunnery Naval Reserve Midshipmen's School, University of Notre Dame (1943–1945).
Post-War Legal Legal Officer Eleventh Naval District, San Diego, CA (1947–1948).
Korean War Legal Officer First Marine Division in Korea (June–December 1951). His service here earned him the Bronze Star Medal.
International Law Head, International Law Branch Office of the Judge Advocate General (JAG), Washington, D.C. (1952–1955).
Joint Staff Staff Legal Officer Joint Staff of the Commander, U. S. Taiwan Defense Command (early 1960s).
Foreign Force Force Legal Officer U. S. Naval Forces Japan (1962–1964).
Training Student Attended the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA.

🏅 Military Awards and Decorations

For his dedicated service, particularly his "extraordinary heroism" and skill as a legal officer with the First Marine Division in Korea, Captain Carlisle received several awards:

Award/Decoration Notes
Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" Awarded for his service as Legal Officer for the First Marine Division in Korea.
Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon
Korean Presidential Unit Citation Badge
Korean Service Medal with three stars
World War II Victory Medal
National Defense Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal

📝 Published Work and Legacy

Captain Carlisle contributed to naval literature, notably publishing an article in the prestigious U.S. Naval Institute's Proceedings:

  • Article: "Three Mile Limit Obsolete Concept?"
  • Publication: Proceedings magazine, February 1967.
  • Summary: The article challenged the continued adherence to the traditional three-mile limit for territorial waters, asking whether the archaic principle served the best interests of the U.S.

📜 Key Public Record Reference

The primary source for his detailed service record and awards is the official U.S. Navy archive.