NORMAN S. IVES, CAPT, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

Captain Norman Ives, USN '20 was lost on this date (August 2) in 1944, in perhaps one of the oddest naval actions of the European theater of the war. He was the director of the recently-captured port of Cherbourg, France, and leading a reconnaissance party of nearly 100 sailors (and four war correspondents) towards the town of St. Malo, which Captain Ives had been told was secured by American forces. In fact, it was still held by 500 German paratroops. The party wandered into an ambush that killed Norman and six others over the course of a three-hour firefight.

Norman was an accomplished submarine officer, and in 1931 was awarded the Navy Cross for his years-long efforts to create and improve submarine rescue devices and designs.

He was survived by his wife, daughter, and son.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/NORMAN_S._IVES,_CAPT,_USN

WILLIAM J. WIDHELM, CAPT, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

CAPT William "Gus" Widhelm, USN '32 was lost on this date (July 19) in 1954 when the T-28 training aircraft he was aboard crashed near Chase Field, Texas. He was the commanding officer of Chase Field at the time.

An accomplished aviator, he was twice awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism. The first was as a Lieutenant and the executive officer of Scouting Squadron (VS) 8 at the Battle of Midway. The second was later that year, when he had been promoted to LCDR and taken command of VS-8, at the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands. In the latter battle his aircraft was shot down and he and his rear gunner spent three days in a raft before being rescued. Later in the war he commanded the Navy's first night-fighter squadron before serving as operations officer for Carrier Task Force One.

Gus was survived by his wife, Elizabeth, and children John, 10; Wendy, 8, and Sally, 4.

To Honor! ⚓

http://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/WILLIAM_J._WIDHELM,_CAPT,_USN

EDWARD E. DEGARMO, LCDR, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

Edward DeGarmo '40 in the Lucky Bag: "When he isn't holding bunk drill, you can find him playing bridge (his favorite indoor and outdoor sport), dragging, reading, working cross-words, or doing a little private jitter-bugging to some hot tune by T. Dorsey. The ability to turn a hopelessly lost debate into apparent victory by resort to a technical point not even remotely connected with the subject is his outstanding characteristic. A typical, smooth-talking son of Ohio, Ed (the walking dictionary) has been a friend to all, always ready to do or try anything. We wish him luck in the Service and hope to be as good shipmates as we have been pals and roommates."

Ed began his service aboard USS Enterprise, but it's unclear what his wartime experience was prior to early 1945. From at least February to June, however, he was the commanding officer of Torpedo Squadron (VT) 82 aboard USS Bennington (CV 20). During these four short months he was awarded the Navy Cross, two Silver Stars, and four Distinguished Flying Crosses. His squadron participated in the destruction of the battleship Yamato and her escorts. Twice in one day he led raids over Tokyo.

On June 3, 1945, Ed was shot down and severely injured by antiaircraft fire over Okinawa while flying a resupply mission to forward Marines.

He was survived by his wife, to whom he was engaged in 1942.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/EDWARD_E._DEGARMO,_LCDR,_USN

LEE S. PANCAKE, LCDR, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

Lee Pancake '31 was remembered in part in the Lucky Bag: "A determined nature and steady application have helped him to steer clear of the dreaded academics. His willingness always to help out a pal has endeared him to all of his friends — and they are many."

Following graduation he served first in destroyers and then aboard USS Oklahoma (BB 37) for some of 1933. By 1934 he was stationed aboard USS Augusta (CA 31), flagship of the Asiatic Fleet. He remained there through 1936; in 1937 he came back to the Naval Academy for post-graduate instruction. Sometime in 1939 he was a Lieutenant and engineering officer aboard USS Russell (DD 414).

By October 26, 1942, he was the engineering officer of Destroyer Squadron 2 and engaged in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands.

"The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Commander Lee Sylvester Pancake (NSN: 0-70263), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Engineering Officer of Destroyer Squadron TWO, during the operations against enemy Japanese forces off the Santa Cruz Islands, on 26 October 1942. When hostile planes launched a vicious raid against the task force to which his group was attached, Lieutenant Commander Pancake, with cool courage and utter disregard for his own personal safety, unhesitatingly volunteered to go aloft to the director platform. There, although perilously exposed to violent attack by low-flying enemy staffers, he rendered valuable assistance in the spotting of Japanese aircraft until he was killed. His conspicuous initiative and unyielding devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country."

He was aboard USS Morris (DD 417), DESRON 2's flagship.

Lee was survived by his wife, parents, three sisters, and four brothers.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/LEE_S._PANCAKE,_LCDR,_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

EDWARD E. DEGARMO, LCDR, USN

LCDR Edward Degarmo '40 in the Lucky Bag: "When he isn't holding bunk drill, you can find him playing bridge (his favorite indoor and outdoor sport), dragging, reading, working cross-words, or doing a little private jitter-bugging to some hot tune by T. Dorsey. The ability to turn a hopelessly lost debate into apparent victory by resort to a technical point not even remotely connected with the subject is his outstanding characteristic. A typical, smooth-talking son of Ohio, Ed (the walking dictionary) has been a friend to all, always ready to do or try anything. We wish him luck in the Service and hope to be as good shipmates as we have been pals and roommates."

Edward was lost on June 6, 1945 when his airplane was shot down near Okinawa.

He was commanding officer of Torpedo Squadron (VT) 82.

He was awarded the Navy Cross for his "extraordinary heroism" and "inspiring leadership."

He was awarded two Silver Stars for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action".

He was awarded four Distinguished Flying Crosses for "heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight."

He was survived by his wife, Beatrice, and is buried in California.

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/EDWARD_E._DEGARMO,_LCDR,_USN

RAYMOND W. VOGEL, JR., CDR, USN

CDR Raymond Vogel, Jr. '36, was shot down near Seoul, Korea, on August 19, 1950. He was commanding officer of Air Group 11, and was awarded the Navy Cross for his outstanding courage, aggressive leadership, and disregard for personal danger.

During World War II, he was operations officer and later executive officer of Fighting Squadron (VF) 11, operating over Guadalcanal in 1943. He scored an aerial victory over a Japanese Zero during this time.

He married into an extraordinary Navy and Naval Academy family, and then his three sons (Bill '62, Fred '65, Tim USMA '65-turned Navy Pilot) continued the tradition.

http://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/RAYMOND_W._VOGEL,_JR.,_CDR,_USN

DEWITT W. SHUMWAY, CDR, USN

Dewitt Shumway '32, recipient of the Navy Cross and two Distinguished Flying Crosses for action in WWII, was killed in 1946 by an errant bomb on Culebra Island, Puerto Rico. He was the acting commanding officer of Bombing Squadron (VB) 3 aboard USS Saratoga during the Battle of Midway and later the non-acting commanding officer during raids on the Solomon Islands in August 1942.

He was survived by his wife, Helen, son, David, his mother, and his sister.

To Honor! ⚓

HUBERT M. HAYTER, LCDR, USN

LCDR Hubert Hayter '24 came to the Naval Academy from Abingdon, Virginia; "Plebe year his ability to call the cows, pigs, chickens, etc., won him distinction and very frequently his melodious, well-trained voice resounded throughout the mess-hall."

Hubert was damage control officer aboard USS New Orleans (CA 32) and was lost on November 30, 1942 when that ship was heavily damaged at the Battle of Tassafaronga. "The Damage Control Officer on the New Orleans, Lieutenant Commander Hubert M. Hayter, and two of his men, Lieutenant Richard Haines '28 and Ensign Andrew L. Forman, remained at their damage control posts despite the fact that it was filling up with toxic fumes. These three brave men were eventually asphyxiated by the fumes and perished. The ship’s chaplain, Howell M. Forgy, later wrote about Hayter, 'I wondered what he thought about in those final minutes, but I knew one thing: he was not afraid.'"

Hubert was awarded the Navy Cross for "extraordinary heroism and distinguished service."

He was survived by his wife, Maurene, two daughters, and a son. Hubert is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

To Honor!