DAVID K. SLOAN, JR., LT, USN

David Sloan, Jr. '38

Date of birth: April 3, 1914

Date of death: November 16, 1943

Age: 29

Lucky Bag

From the 1938 Lucky Bag:

DAVID KINNEY SLOAN, JR.

Williamsport, Pennsylvania

Pop, Junior

The sage of thirty-eight; the grand old man whose devotion and effort made our football team a better one; whose friendliness and rugged, down-to-earth philosophy have made him a shipmate to everyone. Always yearning for the beauties of the Susquehanna Valley, and with no love for the mechanical side of the Midshipman's college life, Dave has found it hard at times to be happy in this modified country club. He got a late start, missing Plebe summer and all its joys, but in spite of this, was elected Captain of our undefeated Plebe team. His sonorous voice has won him acclaim in Berlin's night life and in the Musical Club shows. In a military way, Pop's greatest achievement was being leader of our crack color squad.

Football 4, 3, 2; Goat Keeper 1; Batt Football Coach 1; Hop Committee 1; Ensign.

DAVID KINNEY SLOAN, JR.

Williamsport, Pennsylvania

Pop, Junior

The sage of thirty-eight; the grand old man whose devotion and effort made our football team a better one; whose friendliness and rugged, down-to-earth philosophy have made him a shipmate to everyone. Always yearning for the beauties of the Susquehanna Valley, and with no love for the mechanical side of the Midshipman's college life, Dave has found it hard at times to be happy in this modified country club. He got a late start, missing Plebe summer and all its joys, but in spite of this, was elected Captain of our undefeated Plebe team. His sonorous voice has won him acclaim in Berlin's night life and in the Musical Club shows. In a military way, Pop's greatest achievement was being leader of our crack color squad.

Football 4, 3, 2; Goat Keeper 1; Batt Football Coach 1; Hop Committee 1; Ensign.

Loss

David was lost when USS Corvina (SS 226) was sunk on November 16, 1943 by a Japanese submarine. He was the boat's executive officer.

His parents were listed as next of kin. He has a memory marker in Pennsylvania.

Silver Star

From Hall of Valor:

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant David K. Sloan, Jr. (NSN: 81093), United States Navy, for gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy from 8 December 1941 through September 1942. While serving on board the U.S.S. SWORDFISH (SS-193) during the first five war patrols of that Submarine, he rendered inestimable assistance in sinking eleven enemy vessels totaling 75,200 tons, and in damaging an additional ship of 6,500 tons. Further, during the second war patrol, he was of invaluable aid in the successful execution of two special missions to Corregidor Fortress, evacuating President Quezon and his official party to Panay, and bring the United States High Commissioner of the Philippines and his official party to Australia. Throughout enemy counterattacks in which a total of 95 depth charges and bombs were dropped, his courage was an inspiration to those serving under him, and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Action Date: December 8, 1941 - September 1942
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant
Division: U.S.S. Swordfish (SS-193)

Photographs

Corvina's (SS-226) officers with their wives at Polly's Inn off West Norwich Road, Montville, CT. 16 July 1943. Lieutenant Commander R. S. Rooney is in the middle, second row. Lieutenant Commander (Executive Officer) David Kinney Sloan, Jr. is seated 4th from the left in the front row.

Navy Directories & Officer Registers

The "Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps" was published annually from 1815 through at least the 1970s; it provided rank, command or station, and occasionally billet until the beginning of World War II when command/station was no longer included. Scanned copies were reviewed and data entered from the mid-1840s through 1922, when more-frequent Navy Directories were available.

The Navy Directory was a publication that provided information on the command, billet, and rank of every active and retired naval officer. Single editions have been found online from January 1915 and March 1918, and then from three to six editions per year from 1923 through 1940; the final edition is from April 1941.

The entries in both series of documents are sometimes cryptic and confusing. They are often inconsistent, even within an edition, with the name of commands; this is especially true for aviation squadrons in the 1920s and early 1930s.

Alumni listed at the same command may or may not have had significant interactions; they could have shared a stateroom or workspace, stood many hours of watch together… or, especially at the larger commands, they might not have known each other at all. The information provides the opportunity to draw connections that are otherwise invisible, though, and gives a fuller view of the professional experiences of these alumni in Memorial Hall.