Lieutenant James E. Carter, Jr. (Jimmy Carter)
U.S. Navy (USN) 1946–1953
39th U.S. President of the United States (POTUS) January 20, 1977–January 20, 1981

In memory: Jimmy Carter passed away December 29, 2024 at age 100.

Background
James Earl Carter Jr. was born October 1, 1924 to parents James Earl Carter Sr. and Bessie Lillian in Plains, Georgia. Nicknamed "Jimmy". He attended Plains High School between 1937–1941. In 1941, he enrolled at Georgia Southwestern College and the next year enrolled at Georgia Institute of Technology.

U.S. Navy Service
During 1943, entered the United States Naval Academy (USNA) and graduated on June 5, 1946 and commissioned as an Ensign. That same year, he married his girlfriend Rosalynn Smith. In U.S. Navy (USN) service, Carter served in the Atlantic Fleet and Pacific Fleet serving aboard USS Wyoming (BB-32) and USS Mississippi (BB-41). In June 1948, he began training for submarine duty and earned his dolphin badge. On December 17, 1948 assigned to USS Pomfret (SS-391). In 1949 promoted to the rank of Lieutenant (Junior Grade) and served aboard the submarine for a deployment to the western Pacific and operated off Japan and China until February 1, 1951.

Next, assigned to USS K-1 (USS Barracuda SSK-1), qualified for command, and served in several positions including executive officer. During 1952 served under Captain Hyman G. Rickover in the Navy nuclear submarine program and was stationed at Naval Reactors Branch of the Atomic Energy Commission in Washington, D.C. then moved to Schenectady, New York. In March 1953 attended Union College nuclear power school and planned for an assignment aboard USS Seawolf (SSN-21). After his father, he was released from active duty on October 9, 1953. He and his wife moved back to Plains, Georgia to take over the family's peanut farm. Carter remained in the U.S. Navy Reserve (USNR) with the rank of Lieutenant until 1961.

Carter was elected as the 39th President of the United States (POTUS) January 20, 1977–January 20, 1981. For his efforts with the signing of the Camp David Accords that brought peace between Israel and Egypt, he earned the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.

Memorials
USS Jimmy Carter (SSN-23) launched May 13, 2004 is named in his honor, sponsor was former First Lady Rosalynn Carter. This submarine is the only vessel named for a living president and is only the third submarine in the USN named for a living person.

U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) Building 105 was named in honor of Former President Jimmy Carter on February 17, 2023.

On December 29, 2024 died at age 100.

References
The White House - James Carter
Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) - Lieutenant James Earl Carter Jr., USN
Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) - U.S. Naval Academy Building 105 Renaming Ceremony in Honor of Former President James "Jimmy" Earl Carter, Jr. 17 February 2023
Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum
FindAGrave - President Jimmy Earl “Jimmy” Carter Jr. (photos)

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