JOHN R. POE, LCDR, USN
John Poe '62
Lucky Bag
From the 1962 Lucky Bag:
John Raymond Poe
Laurel, Maryland
Coming to Navy via Laurel, Maryland and Bullis Prep School, John proved to be a valuable asset to the Brigade. Football, soccer, and fieldball constituted his favorite sport endeavors. As for academics, John and the steam department have had their differences, but our boy always came out on top. A dago slash, John could always be seen at Spanish Club meetings. As for "la femme" John has proved too smart for them, though things at times looked bad. Marine green looks mighty fine to John, he hopes to go to Quantico to start his career. With his dynamic drive, personality and ambition, no barrier can be too great as Navy loses another and the Corps gains a great officer.
John Raymond Poe
Laurel, Maryland
Coming to Navy via Laurel, Maryland and Bullis Prep School, John proved to be a valuable asset to the Brigade. Football, soccer, and fieldball constituted his favorite sport endeavors. As for academics, John and the steam department have had their differences, but our boy always came out on top. A dago slash, John could always be seen at Spanish Club meetings. As for "la femme" John has proved too smart for them, though things at times looked bad. Marine green looks mighty fine to John, he hopes to go to Quantico to start his career. With his dynamic drive, personality and ambition, no barrier can be too great as Navy loses another and the Corps gains a great officer.
Loss
John died August 4, 1970 in the Third Field Hospital, Saigon. The circumstances surrounding his loss are unclear, though one site lists him as wounded in action on August 1. Class of 1962 historian has "blood clot," and others have "non-hostile, injury/illness."
On August 9, 1970 The San Diego Union reported he died "of noncombat associated injuries… Poe was en route home after 15 months in Vietnam when he was injured in a fall Aug 1… He died three days later."
He was commanding officer of River Division (RIVDIV) 592 at the time of his death.
Other Information
From Class of 1962:
Cdr. Poe was born in Laurel, Md. He graduated from the Naval Academy in the class of 1962.
His first duty assignment after graduation was aboard the destroyer MEREDITH. Other duty stations included destroyers out of Long Beach and Mayport and Destroyer School in Newport, R.I. Prior to his tour in Vietnam he was stationed at the Anti-Submarine Warfare School in San Diego. In Vietnam he served as Commanding Officer of PBR Division 592 and later as Deputy Commander of CTG 194.9.
Cdr. Poe was the recipient of the National Defense Medal, the Vietnamese Service Medal with three Bronze Stars, the VCM Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V,” the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross and the Staff Honor Medal.
He is survived by his widow, June Ivy, 1240 Elketon Blvd., Spring Valley, CA 92077; a son, Mark Richard; two daughters, Tracy Anne and Linda Marie; and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Austin R. Poe, Laurel, Md. Shipmate, November 1970
He is buried in California.
Photographs
From the November 1970 issue of Shipmate.
Remembrances
From Wall of Faces:
My Dad, MNC Willie Wilson served with LCDR Poe in Vietnam on the PBR's. I have heard his name and stories from my childhood and finally went with my Dad to see LCDR Poe's name on the wall. My Dad is a wonderful man and says LCDR Poe was truly a good person and a great skipper. It just doesn't get any better then that from my Dad. We left a PBR Brown water Navy cap for LCDR Poe at the Wall. I hugged my Dad and thanked God I was able to. CHET WILSON, BECKSEMB@AOL.COM, 4/16/05
Memorials
John is among those names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. As his loss was not due directly to hostile action, though, he does not appear in the Vietnam War section of the Killed In Action panel in Memorial Hall.
Note on Inclusion in Memorial Hall
The circumstances around John's death are unclear, but absence evidence that his injuries were unrelated to his official duties we will continue to assume his loss was operational.
Related Articles
Daniel Hertzfeldt '62 was also in 20th Company.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
