76th Field Artillery Battalion 981st Field Artillery Battalion 40th Infantry Division Artillery 40th Armored Division Artillery 40th Armored Division 40th Infantry Division California National Guard Southern Emergency Operations Center 79th Rear Area Operations Support Center Army National Guard
Ott served in Europe during the war, first with the 76th Field Artillery Battalion, including assignments as battery commander, battalion operations and training officer (S-3), executive officer, and commander. He later served as operations and training officer for the 18th Field Artillery Group, and carried out an assignment in California on the staff of the Sixth United States Army. He was a lieutenant colonel when he was discharged in 1946.[6]
Interbellum
After the war, Ott returned to Santa Barbara and pursued a business career as an executive of his family's business, Ott Hardware, and he became the company's president upon the retirement of his father. He also served as president of Sterling Supply Corporation and Channel Properties, Incorporated.[7][8]
In 1950, Ott was called to federal service with the 40th Infantry Division for the Korean War. He served as commander of the division artillery, and received promotion to colonel.[10]
Senior command
In 1952, Ott was promoted to brigadier general as commander of the 40th Armored Division Artillery.[11]
Ott was assigned as assistant division commander of the 40th Armored Division in 1958.[12] In 1960, he was promoted to major general and assigned as commander of the 40th Armored Division.[13]
In August, 1965, Ott commanded the division when it was activated in response to the Watts Riots.[14][15]
Ott also served as commander of the California National Guard's Southern Emergency Operations Center and commander of the 79th Rear Area Operations Support Center.[16][17]
In 1971, he was named deputy commander of the California National Guard, and in January 1974, he received appointment as commander of the 40th Infantry Division.[13]
In 1974, Ott was appointed director of the Army National Guard, serving until his 1978 retirement.[20]
^United States House Committee on Science and Technology, Hearing Record, Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight, Biographical sketch, Charles A. Ott Jr., 1981, page 183
^United States House Committee on Appropriations, Hearing Record, Military Construction Appropriations for 1978, Biographical sketch, Charles A. Ott Jr., 1977, page 259