Gault, Charles B., 1911-1998

Charles Beers Gault (1911-1998), a native of Lake Waccamaw, N.C., son of Francis Beers Gault and Susie Bell LaMotte Gault, attended Fishburne Military School in Waynesboro, Va., and the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill; worked for Jefferson Pilot Life Insurance Company; and served in the United States Army, 1941-1960, retiring as colonel.

From the description of Charles B. Gault papers, 1865-1960. WorldCat record id: 47922234

Charles Beers Gault was born on 5 May 1911 in Lake Waccamaw, N.C., to Francis Beers Gault and Susie Bell LaMotte Gault. His father, a Minnesota native, arrived in North Carolina in 1897 and eventually took over the Short and Beers Lumber Company, later the North Carolina Lumber Company, located in Hallsboro, N.C., from his great uncle, Charles O. Beers. Francis Beers Gault became one of Columbus County's largest landowners and built an elaborate home, Flemington Hall, in Lake Waccamaw to house his family, which eventually included Charles's sisters, Miriam Ashe Gault (also known as Sister, born 20 November 1916) and Mary Lampman Gault (born 28 February 1921), and his brother, Francis Alexander Gault (Frank or Alex, born 24 April 1923).

Charles B. Gault entered public school in Wilmington, N.C., in October 1918 and Fishburne Military School in Waynesboro, Va., in September 1926. At Fishburne, he served as business manager of the school newspaper. Matriculating at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill in September 1929, Gault was extensively involved in Greek life, serving as president of the University's chapter of Delta Tau Delta fraternity. He struggled academically, however, and left the University in January 1932 to attend King's Business College in Raleigh, N.C.

After spending a year at King's Business College, Gault worked as a statistical clerk for the Home Owners' Loan Corporation in North Carolina; a branch office cashier and salesman for Jefferson Standard Life Insurance Company in Greensboro, N.C.; and a field adjuster for Commercial Credit Corporation in North Carolina, 1939-1940. Gault worked at Smith's Esso station in Charlotte and as a salesman for International Silverware Co. in 1940.

Gault's siblings were attending school and beginning their careers in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Sister attended Woman's College in Greensboro, September 1936-June 1939, and then taught at Chatham Hall in Chatham, Va., 1939-1941. In 1941, she married Sidney Holt. Frank attended the McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tenn., 1939-1941; entered Davidson College in September 1941; and joined the Merchant Marine in December 1942. Mary attended the Marjorie Webster School, September 1941-June 1943, and taught there beginning in September 1943. Their father, Francis Beers Gault, died in October 1946.

The bulk of Charles B. Gault's career was spent in the United States Army. Gault entered the army as a private on 19 July 1941 at Fort Bragg, N.C., and was sent to LaGarde General Hospital in New Orleans, La., where he became personnel sergeant major with the rank of staff sergeant. After attending Medical Administrative Corps Officer Candidate School at the Medical Field Service School in Carlisle Barracks, Pa., 1 June-24 August 1942, Gault was commissioned a second lieutenant, Medical Administrative Corps, on 25 August. He then went overseas, serving in Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides Islands, as adjutant at 25th Evacuation Hospital and administrative officer to the Island Surgeon. In April 1945, Gault became administrative officer to the Island Surgeon on Guadalcanal at Fleet Hospital 105; in August, he was appointed adjutant in 332d Station Hospital in New Caledonia.

Starting in 1946, Gault was a casual company commander at Camp Polk, La.; training company commander at Fort Ord, Calif.; administrative officer at Fort Ord's Officers' Training School; and adjutant of the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. In October 1948, Gault became personnel officer at the 382d Station Hospital at Ascom City, Korea. Later, he was collecting company commander and administrative officer in the 5th Infantry Regimental Combat Team at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. Then he was base sanitation and preventive medicine officer for the Surgeon at the 2d Logistical Command in Pusan, Korea.

Gault returned to the United States in July 1951, serving with the 101st Medical Battalion at Camp Atterbury, Ind., until September and then in Würzburg and Wertheim, Germany. In November 1954, Gault was assigned to the Personnel Research and Procedures Division of the Adjutant General's Office. In that capacity, he worked as a field job analyst at Fort Meade, Md.; Fort Bragg, N.C.; and at units in Germany and France. Starting in July 1956, Gault was in Washington, D.C., as an administrative officer in the Personnel Analysis Section of the same division. In May 1957, Gault was assigned to the headquarters of the 1st Medical Group in Verdun, France, and became the commanding officer of the 16th field hospital in Vitry Le François in January 1959. He returned to the United States in September 1959, serving at the Ireland Army Hospital at Fort Knox, Ky.

After his retirement from the army in 1961, Gault built a home in Chapel Hill. He remained active as an unofficial adviser to Duke University's chapter of Delta Tau Delta, 1962-1985, opening his home to generations of students. In 1990, the Charles B. Gault-Delta Tau Delta Scholarship at Duke was established. Gault died on 25 December 1998.

From the guide to the Charles B. Gault Papers (#4969), 1865-1960, (Southern Historical Collection)