Navy service, Sunday School teacher: 5 interesting facts about Jimmy Carter
Served in the Navy
Long before he became president of the United States, Carter served in the U.S. Navy after graduating with distinction from the Naval Academy in 1946.
After graduation, he was assigned as an ensign to the U.S.S. Wyoming, where he served for two years until he applied and was accepted for duty on a submarine.
“He served as executive officer, engineering officer, and electronics repair officer on the submarine SSK-1. When Admiral Hyman G. Rickover (then a captain) started his program to create nuclear-powered submarines, Carter wanted to join the program and was interviewed and selected by Rickover,” noted the Naval History and Heritage Command.
“Carter was promoted to lieutenant and from 3 November 1952 to 1 March 1953, he served on temporary duty with the Naval Reactors Branch, U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Washington, D.C., to assist ‘in the design and development of nuclear propulsion plants for naval vessels.’”
Carter resigned from the Navy in 1953 following the death of his father so that he could focus on looking after his family in Georgia. He was honorably discharged on Oct. 9 of that year.
Later, a submarine was named in his honor.
