JAMES B. MCLENDON, LT, USN

From USNA Virtual Memorial Hall
James McLendon '66

Date of birth: February 27, 1944

Date of death: February 17, 1969

Age: 24

Lucky Bag

From the 1966 Lucky Bag:

1966 McLendon LB.jpg

JAMES BERKELEY McLENDON

Roanoke, Virginia

Mac came right out of high school in Roanoke, Virginia, and has never ceased letting us know that the South hasn't surrendered, yet. Whether or not he can convince us of this, he does have the ability to talk. He was the first plebe to win the Brigade Oratorical Contest and the first man ever to win it twice in a row. Also along this line, Mac has been an active member of the Masqueraders. These activities haven't taken all of his time, however. He has managed to find time to be a member of the varsity sailing team as well as one of the hardest workers on the Brigade Hop Committee and Ring Dance Committee. If you have ever walked into his room and taken a look around, you know what his career plans are. Mac will make a fine addition to Naval Aviation.

1966 McLendon LB.jpg

JAMES BERKELEY McLENDON

Roanoke, Virginia

Mac came right out of high school in Roanoke, Virginia, and has never ceased letting us know that the South hasn't surrendered, yet. Whether or not he can convince us of this, he does have the ability to talk. He was the first plebe to win the Brigade Oratorical Contest and the first man ever to win it twice in a row. Also along this line, Mac has been an active member of the Masqueraders. These activities haven't taken all of his time, however. He has managed to find time to be a member of the varsity sailing team as well as one of the hardest workers on the Brigade Hop Committee and Ring Dance Committee. If you have ever walked into his room and taken a look around, you know what his career plans are. Mac will make a fine addition to Naval Aviation.

Loss

James was lost on February 17, 1969 when the P-2A he was piloting crashed at Meridian, Mississippi. He was a student; the instructor pilot was also killed.

Other Information

From the May 1969 issue of Shipmate:

Lt. McLendon was born in Panama City, Republic of Panama, and was an honor graduate of William Fleming High School, Roanoke, Va. He won the Virginia State Championships in both the American Legion and the Voice of Democracy oratorical competitions, and in 1962 was given a Valley Forge Freedoms Foundation award. While a midshipman, he was a member of the varsity sailing team, participated in dramatics and forensics, and twice won the Jewish War Veterans of the U. S. speaking contest; he also served as "Salty Sam" for the midshipmen magazine The Log.

After graduating from the Naval Academy in 1966, Lt. McLendon reported to USS HENRY B. WILSON as assistant combat information center officer, and in Oct. 1968 he entered basic training at Pensacola, Fla. Two months later he reported to Naval Air Station, Meridian, where he was a student pilot attached to Training Squadron Seven at the time of the accident.

Survivors include his widow, the former Andrea Gale Dart of Annapolis, who resides at 4609 Broadmoor Dr., Apt. #121, Meridian, Miss. 39301; his parents Mr. and Mrs. James B. McLendon Jr. of 3410 Collingwood St., N.E., Roanoke, Va. 20412, and a sister Miss Anne C. McLendon.

Photographs

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Class of 1966

James is one of 36 members of the Class of 1966 on Virtual Memorial Hall.

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