Ralph K. Rottet

Ralph Kaspar Rottet (February 25, 1911 – November 26, 1971) was a decorated officer and naval aviator in the United States Marine Corps with the rank of lieutenant general. He was a commanding officer in Marine Aircraft Group 31 during World War II and later became Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs at Headquarters Marine Corps in 1968.

Early career

Ralph K. Rottet was born on February 25, 1911, in Jasper, Indiana, to John Fredrick Rottet, a cabinet maker, and Elisa Otilda Diendofer, a homemaker. His parents were of German and French descent, and he was the youngest of three children. Ralph attended Shelbyville High School, where he was a member of the Indiana National Guard. He graduated in 1929 and received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland.

Rottet completed Marine Corps Officer instruction at the Basic School at Philadelphia Navy Yard in May of the following year. He was then assigned to the Marine Detachment aboard the heavy cruiser Salt Lake City, and in early 1936, he participated in patrol cruises along the coast of California and gunnery exercises at San Clemente Island. After Rottet requested flight training, he was ordered to the Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida in June of that year.

Rottet completed his training in July 1937 and was designated a naval aviator and promoted to first lieutenant. He was then ordered to the Naval Air Station San Diego, California, where he served for three years. During that assignment, in July 1940, he was promoted to captain, and in November of that year, he was transferred back to Pensacola Station. Rottet served as an instructor there for one year before being transferred to Washington, D.C. for duty at the Bureau of Aeronautics of the Navy Department.

World War II

Rottet was promoted to Major in May 1942, following the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor and the United States' entry into World War II. He was ordered to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, and joined the newly activated 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing under Brigadier general Claude A. Larkin. Rottet was appointed commanding officer of the new Marine Fighting Squadron 311 and was tasked with preparing squadrons for deployment and training replacement pilots for combat squadrons.

Rottet was appointed Commanding officer of the newly established Marine Aircraft Group 31 (MAG-31) at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point by the end of January 1943, and later became the Group's executive officer in August of that year, when Colonel Calvin R. Freeman was appointed Commanding officer. The MAG-31 embarked for American Samoa in late September and joined the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing under Brigadier general Harold D. Campbell. Rottet was promoted to lieutenant colonel in June 1943.

He held that position until December of that year, when he returned to the United States after fifteen months overseas. Following his return, Rottet was assigned to the Army-Navy Staff College in Washington, D.C. for instruction. He graduated in June 1945 and was commissioned to the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, where he assumed command of the Aircraft Engineering Squadron 46.

Korea and postwar service Rottet being promoted Lieutenant general by Commandant Wallace M. Greene and his wife Adele, June 30, 1967. While at Cherry Point, Rottet was appointed Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations (G-3). In August 1946, he was commissioned to serve as faculty at the Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk, Virginia, where he remained until July 1948. Rottet was then transferred to the Naval Air Station San Diego, California, and joined the staff of the Air Force Pacific Fleet Command as Marine Aviation Planning Officer. He served under Vice admirals Harold B. Sallada and Thomas L. Sprague and was promoted to colonel in July 1949.

Death

Rottet was diagnosed with terminal Carcinoma prostate which metastasized to his bones. He settled in New Bern, North Carolina, and following a cardio-pulmonary collapse, Rottet was transported to the Naval Hospital at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where he died on November 26, 1971, at the age of 60. His body was cremated, and his ashes were scattered over the Neuse River at his own request. He was survived by his wife, Adele Sparhawk, and five children.