Charles E. Collett
Encyclopedia
Charles E. Collett is an American
lawyer.
Born in San Francisco, he became a member of the Olympic Club
at the age of 12. Besides becoming an avid swimmer, his childhood included ferryboat rides to Marin
and runs out to Stinson Beach along the Dipsea Trail. An accomplished musician, he played the alto saxophone and piano. He attended Polytechnic High School in San Francisco and then went on to Stanford where he received his BA degree. He was a member of the Delta Tau Delta
fraternity there and captained the champion Stanford water polo team. He was selected for the US Olympics 1924 water polo
team and came back with a bronze award for their performance. He was subsequently inducted into the US Water Polo Hall of Fame.
Upon graduating from Stanford, Mr. Collett attended Hastings Law School in San Francisco where he obtained his law degree. A member of the Bohemian Club, he pursued his interests in music and acting with the Club, participating in numerous performances at the Grove. He also performed in many venues around the Bay Area most notably the Mountain Theater on Mount Tamalpais
. Mr. Collett enlisted in the Navy
during World War II
and served as a lieutenant in the Pacific Campaign
. He was on the ill-fated St. Lo escort carrier in the Battle of Leyte Gulf
during which his ship was attacked and sunk by a Kamikaze
fighter plane. Owing to his excellent swimming ability, he not only survived the subsequent ordeal but helped keep two injured men afloat and received the Bronze Star for his effort.
Mr. Collett served as the assistant US Attorney for the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
. He fathered four children and was engaged in all their curricular and non-curricular activities. His greatest satisfaction besides his children was in the enjoyment of nature especially walks on Mount Tamalpais near his home.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer.
Born in San Francisco, he became a member of the Olympic Club
Olympic Club
The Olympic Club is a San Francisco, California, athletic club and private social club with three golf courses located at San Francisco's border with Daly City, California. The club's main "City Clubhouse" is located in downtown San Francisco. The club's "Lakeside Clubhouse" is located just north...
at the age of 12. Besides becoming an avid swimmer, his childhood included ferryboat rides to Marin
Marin
-Places:*Marin, Haute-Savoie, a commune in France*Le Marin, a commune in the French overseas department of Martinique*Marín, Nuevo León, a town and municipality in Mexico*Marín, Pontevedra, a municipality in Galicia, Spain*Marin County, California...
and runs out to Stinson Beach along the Dipsea Trail. An accomplished musician, he played the alto saxophone and piano. He attended Polytechnic High School in San Francisco and then went on to Stanford where he received his BA degree. He was a member of the Delta Tau Delta
Delta Tau Delta
Delta Tau Delta is a U.S.-based international secret letter college fraternity. Delta Tau Delta was founded in 1858 at Bethany College, Bethany, Virginia, . It currently has around 125 student chapters nationwide, as well as more than 25 regional alumni groups. Its national community service...
fraternity there and captained the champion Stanford water polo team. He was selected for the US Olympics 1924 water polo
Water polo
Water polo is a team water sport. The playing team consists of six field players and one goalkeeper. The winner of the game is the team that scores more goals. Game play involves swimming, treading water , players passing the ball while being defended by opponents, and scoring by throwing into a...
team and came back with a bronze award for their performance. He was subsequently inducted into the US Water Polo Hall of Fame.
Upon graduating from Stanford, Mr. Collett attended Hastings Law School in San Francisco where he obtained his law degree. A member of the Bohemian Club, he pursued his interests in music and acting with the Club, participating in numerous performances at the Grove. He also performed in many venues around the Bay Area most notably the Mountain Theater on Mount Tamalpais
Mount Tamalpais
Mount Tamalpais is a peak in Marin County, California, United States, often considered symbolic of Marin County. Much of Mount Tamalpais is protected within public lands such as Mount Tamalpais State Park and the Mount Tamalpais Watershed.-Geography:...
. Mr. Collett enlisted in the Navy
Navy
A navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and served as a lieutenant in the Pacific Campaign
Pacific Campaign
Pacific Campaign may refer to:* Pacific Campaign , fighting between the United States and Spain during the Spanish-American War...
. He was on the ill-fated St. Lo escort carrier in the Battle of Leyte Gulf
Battle of Leyte Gulf
The Battle of Leyte Gulf, also called the "Battles for Leyte Gulf", and formerly known as the "Second Battle of the Philippine Sea", is generally considered to be the largest naval battle of World War II and, by some criteria, possibly the largest naval battle in history.It was fought in waters...
during which his ship was attacked and sunk by a Kamikaze
Kamikaze
The were suicide attacks by military aviators from the Empire of Japan against Allied naval vessels in the closing stages of the Pacific campaign of World War II, designed to destroy as many warships as possible....
fighter plane. Owing to his excellent swimming ability, he not only survived the subsequent ordeal but helped keep two injured men afloat and received the Bronze Star for his effort.
Mr. Collett served as the assistant US Attorney for the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals
A court of appeals is an appellate court generally.Court of Appeals may refer to:*Military Court of Appeals *Corte d'Assise d'Appello *Philippine Court of Appeals*High Court of Appeals of Turkey*United States courts of appeals...
. He fathered four children and was engaged in all their curricular and non-curricular activities. His greatest satisfaction besides his children was in the enjoyment of nature especially walks on Mount Tamalpais near his home.