HENRY R. DOZIER, CDR, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

Henry Dozier '27, from Omaha, Nebraska in the Lucky Bag:

"HANK'S first appearance is very striking. You see a neat, well-groomed young man, medium in height and broad of shoulders. He came to the Academy after a high school course and one year of college work at Creighton University in Nebraska. His previous military training won him a place as adjutant in our Plebe Summer organization. He is very athletic, a devotee of football, basketball and lacrosse, but an injury has held him up in this line of activity.

No, don't give up hope yet, ladies. He was a confirmed woman-hater during his first two years, but after trying unsuccessfully several times, his luck changed and since then he has been quite a ladies' man. Paris and London helped to bring about this change for the worse. Hank is inclined to be brilliant in his studies but doesn't allow them to interfere with his education. A trace of Southern blood causes him to lay aside his books when there is something more interesting on the program. His easy-going pleasant manner has won him numerous friends both in and out of the service. A touch of Satan often causes him to get in trouble, but being a politician, he manages to smooth things over and come out on the top. To sum him up, Hank is a real man, good-natured, strong, both physically and mentally, and above all a good roommate which covers a multitude of sins."

Henry earned his wings as naval aviator #3679 on July 28, 1930; he spent the pre-war years in various squadrons and at the Naval Academy for postgraduate education. Shortly before the war began he was in Washington, D.C. at the Bureau of Aeronautics.

Henry's early wartime experience isn't known to us, but by 1943 he was serving aboard USS Yorktown (CV 10) during her construction and fitting-out. Following Yorktown's commissioning in April 1943, he was still aboard through her first combat operations later that year.

Sometime in October or early November 1944 he was transferred to the staff of Carrier Division 26. On November 5, 1944, while en route to this billet, he was aboard USS Ticonderoga (CV 14). That ship had been attacked several times earlier in the day, and was running dark at 2105 when he fell overboard into the Philippine Sea.

Henry was survived by his wife, four children, and brother. (His brother became the TV producer of "Batman" and "Green Hornet" in the 1970s.) One of his daughters passed away in December 2020. His grandson, Gus Colom, graciously provided several wonderful pictures of Henry as a midshipman through time at sea aboard Yorktown.

To Honor! ⚓

http://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/HENRY_R._DOZIER,_CDR,_USN

JULIAN D. GREER, CAPT, USN

Julian Greer '27, was commanding officer of Fleet Air Wing 6 when the PB4Y patrol plane he was aboard crashed in Washington on January 28, 1953.

A portion of his entry in the Lucky Bag reads: "Although a star athlete in his home state, June, after trying lacrosse for a year, decided to take part in the Radiator Club meetings, and any day after drill he could be heard saying, "How about a little game tonight?""

June is always ready to help anyone less savvy, and would do anything for a friend. His winning smile and hearty friendship will make a place for him in the Service."

Have been unable to find any of his wartime experiences, but following graduation he was aboard USS Pennsylvania (BB 38) before beginning flight training in early 1929. Prior to the war he served in various squadrons on the west coast and in the Territory of Hawaii.

"June" was survived by his wife, mother, two sisters, and a brother.

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/JULIAN_D._GREER,_CAPT,_USN

RANDOLPH B. BOYER, CAPT, USN

Capt. Randolph Boyer, USN '27 was lost on August 16, 1947 when the converted B-17 he was aboard crashed while enroute from Hawaii to Japan. He was a member of "General MacArthur's strategic and operations staff." Nine others were also lost, including Ambassador George C. Atcheson, Jr., the chief political advisor and the chairman of the allied powers council in Japan.

He was awarded the Navy Cross for "extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession" as commanding officer of USS Morris (DD 417) at the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands in October 1942.

A native of Minnesota, the Lucky Bag said in part: "He has a tremendous attraction to everyone. He is forever helping his roommates. You should hear those two argue. There is nothing they do not talk about, and many Baltimoreans are said to have obtained pointers on Darwin's theory or the like from their low conversations. "Rannie" has those underlying qualities that show the true hard-fighting type, and we know he will go forth to conquer new worlds. A true friend to all, never moody, never cross, we all like him and find him a true classmate and companion."

Randolph was survived by his wife, daughter, mother, two sisters and two brothers.

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/RANDOLPH_B._BOYER,_CAPT,_USN

ROBERT T. SYMES, LT, USN

LT Robert Symes '27 was lost on November 30, 1936 when the plane he was piloting crashed near La Jolla, California.

From the Lucky Bag: "AT last the Math Department is due for some commendation. Through its bilging efforts Bob came into our midst during Plebe year. With his winning ways and true comradeship he immediately proceeded to carve for himself a niche in our hearts which only grows deeper and more permanent as time rolls by.

"Bob has evinced only a spasmodic interest in athletics, although we believe he possesses latent powers. Was he not on the basketball squad Plebe year? The apparent reason for this lack of interest in athletics lies in his consistent boning of the Cosmo and associated. Any other type of boning is absolutely taboo, which perchance explains why we are now graced with his presence.

"The thought that the gentler sex has resisted his charms is not to be harbored, for one only has to gaze on his raven black hair and ruddy cheek to realize that there must be many broken hearts throughout his scattered ports of call.

"Gifted with an overflowing well of cheery good humor and the rare knack of being able to express himself, Bob has enlivened many gatherings with the narration of the anecdotes of his prep school days in Washington and his eventful cruises.

"A parting hint—if you are to escape this man's personality, steer clear of his course, for once exposed you are infected forever."

Robert was survived by his father and a son, Robert, Jr.

http://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/ROBERT_T._SYMES,_LT,_USN