LEGACY OF VALOR From Annapolis to Victory

The U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation is producing a multi-story, multi-platform package of content featuring Naval Academy alumni who served in World War II. Central to this effort are interviews with living WWII alumni and a partnership with the National WWII Museum to commemorate the courage, leadership, and sacrifice of Naval Academy alumni.

Through Shipmate and digital channels, the USNA AA&F celebrates the legacy of these veterans, imparts leadership lessons drawn from their bravery, and solemnly honors those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

More Alumni Stories:

1st Battalion 27th Marines in WW 2: The 1st Battalion 27th Marines was one of nine infantry Battalions of the 5th Marine Division which was activated in early January 1944 at Camp Pendleton, CA. Salted with disbanded raiders, Para Marines, and other combat veterans from earlier Pacific battles, the battalion was destined for a crucial role in the battle of Iwo Jima. Among the veterans NCOs’ reporting to 1/27 was Seargent John Basilone, the Guadalcanal national hero, who requested relief from a national bond tour so he could get back in the war. The quality of training and battle leadership provided by the presence of these veterans was invaluable. Assigned to command the battalion was Lieutenant Colonel John A. Butler, a native of New Orleans and a career Marine, who graduated from the Naval Academy in 1934. Butler had early Sea Duty in the Caribbean, where his linguistic skills led him to work in Naval Intelligence and as an attaché in the Dominican Republic. He also had previous duty with the 1st Bn 5th Marines from 1938-40 before being posted to the Dominican Republic. Fresh out of Staff and Command School, though not yet experiencing Pacific combat, this seasoned Marine officer was eager and prepared for command. Read the full feature (PDF).

Lieutenant Commander Lance E. Massey, Class of 1930: My mother Marjorie was initially widowed when her first husband, Ensign James Kelsey, Class of 1931, USN, missing-in-action, was killed in a naval aviation accident in 1934. She then married my father, Lieutenant Commander Lance E. Massey. We were living in Coronado, CA, when we received news of my father’s missing-in-action status after the Battle of Midway. Mother continued to live in Coronado off and on until she passed away in October 1983. I graduated from the Naval Academy in 1958, flew over 200 combat missions over North Vietnam, and retired as a commander after 26 years of active duty. My brother Walter spent 20 years in the U.S. Air Force and retired as a captain. My son, Lance Edward Massey II was a NFO and retired as captain in the Navy after 26 years of active duty. Three generations of Naval Aviators! From what I have read I believe my father knew he and his squadron had little chance of returning from is mission on 4 June 1942, but he led his men with distinction, and they followed him without question. ⚓ Submitted by CDR Lance Massey ’58, USN (Ret.), LCDR Massey’s son

Commander James G. Marshall, USN, Class of 1932: My father, Commander James G. Marshall, was a member of the Naval Academy’s Class of 1932. He commanded DOYLE at Omaha Beach on D-Day. For his action, and that of his ship on this day, he was awarded the Silver Star, and his ship received a unit Commendation. He continued to serve after the War, but subsequently died in a flash fire and explosion on the Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay Cuba in 1951. Thus, he is listed as a Korean War Casualty on the wall in Memorial Hall. His widow, my Mother (Mrs. Mary Emma Marshall), later became the first social director at the Naval Academy and was well known at the Academy from 1958 to 1980. In addition to the deep involvement with the Navy of my father and mother, my brother and my husband are members of the Naval Academy’s Class of 1962. My brother retired as a Captain after 30 years in the submarine service. He lives with his wife, an Annapolis native, in Aiken, SC. I still live with my Naval Academy husband (Herbert Sprague) in Colorado Springs, CO. I met Herb while I was a senior at Annapolis High School. Finally, my son, Commander Marshall’s grandson, is a member of the Class of 1993. He retired from the Navy after 20 years, and lives near us in Colorado Springs. It is worthwhile noting that all the men mentioned above (Father, Brother, Husband and Son) lived, or are still living with their first wives who they each met in Annapolis. Our family home during WWII was on Hanover Street in Annapolis, just outside what was then the Main Gate (now Gate 3). My mother could easily walk into the yard where my 4-year-old brother would often watch formation while banging on his toy drum. He never played a drum again until he was a midshipman on the front row of the Drum and Bugle Corps. Because DOYLE was used in filming the Hollywood movie “The Caine Mutiny,” studio agents came from Hollywood to honor our family. ⚓ Submitted by CDR Marshall’s daughter Mary Lee Marshall Sprague

Lieutenant Commander Eugene Lindsey, Class of 1927: On the morning of 28 May 1942, my grandfather Lieutenant Commander Eugene Lindsey, Class of 1927, said goodbye to my grandmother, my mother Mary, and her brother Eugene before departing for NAS Pearl Harbor and climbing into his torpedo bomber. His orders were to lead his squadron off of Ford Island to join ENTERPRISE as the ship sortied from Pearl Harbor to waters northeast of Midway Island. In 1934, while stationed in Hawaii, he had fallen in love with my grandmother Martha Fronk, the daughter of a retired U.S. Army Surgeon. Eugene was barely five on the morning of 7 December 1941. While my father and the ENTERPRISE were at sea returning from dropping off a Marine fighter squadron on Wake Island, the family witnessed the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Family lore was that pugnacious young Eugene climbed to the roof of his grandparents’ home to urge the Japanese aircraft to come back and hit his school building. My uncle Gene followed his father to the Naval Academy, graduating in 1958 and retired as a captain. ⚓ Submitted by Susan Vicedomini, LCDR Lindsey’s granddaughter

The discipline and the value of following the rules followed me the rest of my life. Learn as much as you can and follow the rules. The rules are pretty much the same (in the fleet)." - LCDR Charles G. Sobel ‘45, USN (ReT.)