Okinawa Marines, June 14, 1945

DAVID S. MCDOUGAL, LTCOL, USMC ‘33

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

On this date in 1945 three alumni were killed in action during the ferocious fighting on Okinawa. LTCOL David McDougal '33 was commanding officer of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines. 2nd Lieutenant Arthur Day '45 was a member of 1st Battalion, 1st Marines and 2LT Lloyd Wyatt, Jr. '45 the 1st Battalion, 29th Marines. In addition to Arthur and Lloyd being classmates, they were both in the 8th Company at the Naval Academy.

While Arthur and Lloyd had been Marines for barely a year, David had been stationed aboard ships and at Marine Barracks across the country. He served 22 months in the South Pacific, including on Guadalcanal when, as a Major, he took command of his battalion when his CO was wounded or killed. After a week in the role he was wounded (in October 1942); he was wounded again at Cape Gloucester in December 1943.

We remember all three of these men. To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/DAVID_S._MCDOUGAL,_LTCOL,_USMC

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/ARTHUR_C._DAY,_2LT,_USMC

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/LLOYD_K._WYATT,_JR.,_2LT,_USMC

ARTHUR C. DAY, 2LT, USMC, ‘45

LLOYD K. WYATT, JR., 2LT, USMC, ‘45

FOSTER N. SIMONSEN, ENS, USN

ENS Foster Simonsen '45, from Davenport, Iowa, in the Lucky Bag: "Three years of living with the mightiest of the "mighty mites" has been three years filled with a vast variety of experiences. The little "wolf" has never done anything halfway, be it sports, "beating the system," or girls. His sincerity, self assurance, and high ideals have made him many friends. Neal's desire to live a completely filled life is destined to carry him to the far corners of the earth. A hunting lodge in Minnesota, an expedition to the mountains of Tibet, or a safari in Africa are all within his range. To the shortest man legally in the Naval Academy, and to a real Navy man, I say "MIZ-PAH.""

Foster graduated with the rest of his class in June 1944; he was killed in action when USS Shubrick (DD 639) was struck by a kamikaze off the coast of Okinawa on May 29, 1945.

He was survived by his wife, Martha.

http://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/FOSTER_N._SIMONSEN,_ENS,_USN

LOUIS P. HAGAN, ENS, USNR

Louis Hagan '45 was "deficient in studies" and resigned from the Naval Academy in 1942. His service did not end then, however. On February 17, 1945 he was an Ensign in the Naval Reserve and aboard USS LCI(G) 471, providing close-in gunfire support to underwater demolition teams (UDT) who were preparing the beaches of Iwo Jima for the invasion two days later.

At 11:32 that morning, his ship was ordered to retire after "having received two additional hits which killed nine men, wounded six, disabled the bow 40mm gun and started another fire." Two of the wounded later died.

Louis's commanding officer — one of five officers aboard the ship — was awarded the Navy Cross, and the entire LCI(G) group was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for their heroism that day. (Another commanding officer in the group was awarded the Medal of Honor.)

Louis was from Elizabethtown, Kentucky, and was survived by his mother, sister, and brother.

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/LOUIS_P._HAGAN,_ENS,_USNR

CONRAD S. GROVE, JR., 2LT, USMC

Conrad Grove, Jr. '45 in the Lucky Bag: "To his more intimate friends, "Connie" is known as "Lefty" or "Lacrosse-Stick Grove." Always ready for a party, his exceedingly high spirit more than upheld the morale of the 8th Company. He was a member of the Plebe Lacrosse Team, played a fair game of tennis and possessed much innate but dormant athletic ability. The Detroit Tigers are tops with "Lefty," and it breaks his heart when they wind up in the second division. Happy, carefree, and never in want of friends or companions, he will make a successful officer in his chosen profession."

"Connie" and his classmates were graduated in June 1944; he was lost in March 1945 in an accident involving a hand grenade. He was a 2nd Lieutenant in the Marine Corps and in North Carolina.

He was survived by his wife (who later remarried) and his parents.

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/CONRAD_S._GROVE,_JR.,_2LT,_USMC

DONALD W. HALL, ENS, USN

Donald Hall '45, from the Lucky Bag: "After being thwarted in his efforts to become a lawyer, musician, radio technician, and National Guardsman, Don turned to the sea and journeyed the two blocks from his home to the Naval Academy. He brought a sincere desire to learn and a natural ability to box. With these assets he gained a pair of stars and a broken nose. To date, his greatest claim to fame are his drill shoes. Wine, women and song are a strong attraction for "Punchy," and, when you meet him in the Fleet, you'll know him to be the little man stepping ashore in the lead of the first liberty party."

Don was killed in action on May 4, 1945 when USS Morrison (DD 560) was sunk by a kamikaze near Okinawa; 151 of his shipmates were also lost.