Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. This is a very rare example of a U.S. Navy “Baseball Cap” named to Admiral Robert B. Carney, a Naval combat veteran of both World Wars, Chief of Staff to Admiral Halsey during World War II, Commander-in-Chief of NATO Forces in Southern Europe from 1951-1953, and U.S. Chief of Naval Operations from 1953-1954. This is a phenomenal piece of U.S. Navy History! We acquired it from a small private museum collection along with an old tag that attributes it to Admiral Robert B. Carney C.N.O. (Chief of Naval Operations), which dates the hat to around 1953-1954.

The cap has 4 stars embroidered on the front for the Naval rank of Admiral, with twin arcs of oak leaves and acorns embroidered along the visor. There is a name tag pinned to the right side of the cap reading “ADMIRAL ROBERT B. CARNEY”. The interior still retains its original sweatband, underneath which Carney has written “ROBERT B. CARNEY ADMIRAL U.S.N.”.

A fantastic cap offered in size 7-⅜ that comes more than ready for further research and display.

The cap's fantastic condition is a testament to its quality and durability. Despite showing signs of being used for many years, it is still in remarkable shape. All insignia are still present, and only a few areas exhibit signs of lifting. The nametag on the side is in great shape and doesn’t appear to have been removed.

Robert B. Carney was born March 26th, 1895, in Vallejo, California. After graduating from the United States Naval Academy in 1916, he served in World War I, seeing combat against German U-Boats and being awarded a Commendation star on his victory medal, along with an Escort clasp. Shortly before the U.S. entered WWII, Carney assisted in organizing, equipping, and training a special Surface-Air Force, having as its mission the protection of shipping against submarine and air attack. This force became fully involved in convoy escort prior to the involvement of the United States into the war.

Starting in October 1942, Carney commanded the cruiser USS Denver in the Pacific Theater. He was twice decorated for engagements in the Solomon Islands campaign, earning the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" for meritorious service as Commanding Officer of Denver while attached to a task group of Admiral William Halsey's Third Fleet during operations against the Japanese-held islands of Kolombangara and Shortland. Off Bougainville the night of July 26, 1943 he took advantage of poor weather to lay a large quantity of mines along sea lanes around the island, and then delivered a naval bombardment against the Japanese shore installations.

On July 29, 1943, Carney was appointed chief of staff to Halsey, and was promoted to rear admiral. At the time Halsey was Commander, South Pacific Force, a responsibility which included all ground, sea, and air forces in the South Pacific area. Carney later wrote that "Admiral Halsey unfailingly gave credit to his subordinates for successes achieved, and took all blame for failures on his own shoulders." While in this assignment, Carney was awarded his second Navy Distinguished Service Medal for his contributions to the overall strategy and in organizing the logistic support of the Allied Forces in the South Pacific, the citation stating, in part:

“Displaying sound judgement and distinctive tactical ability, he conceived and correlated the many offensive operations carried out in the Solomon Islands and Bismarck Archipelago areas. Through his comprehensive knowledge of logistics and his expert planning, he enabled our Forces to exert their greatest strength against the enemy and administer a series of crushing defeats on the Japanese.”

Carney arranged with Japanese emissaries for the entry of the Third Fleet into Tokyo Bay, accepted the surrender of Yokosuka Naval Base and surrounding area from Vice Admiral Michitaro Totsuka of the Imperial Japanese Navy, and attended the ceremony for the surrender of Japan held on board Halsey's flagship, the battleship USS Missouri.

In 1946, Carney was promoted to vice admiral and, until February 1950, served as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations. He then assumed command of the Second Fleet operating on the East Coast of the United States. On October 2, 1950, Carney was advanced in rank to admiral.

From 1951 to 1953, Carney served as Commander-in-Chief of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's Allied Forces Southern Europe, where he was responsible for the fleets of five countries and the armed forces of Italy, Greece and Turkey.

On May 13, 1953, President Dwight D. Eisenhower selected Carney as the next Chief of Naval Operations. On completion of this assignment, Carney retired from active service in the Navy.

Over the next several years, Carney's various assignments, coupled with his personal interest in industrial participation in the defense effort, resulted in close contact with industry including the position of chairman of the board, Bath Iron Works, Corporation.

Carney died of cardiac arrest in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 1990, at the age of 95. He and his wife are buried at Arlington National Cemetery. USS Carney (DDG-64) and Carney Park were named in his honor.