FRIEND C. VAN FLEET, JR., LCDR, USN

Friend Van Fleet, Jr. '44

Date of birth: February 22, 1921

Date of death: March 9, 1954

Age: 33

Lucky Bag

From the 1944 Lucky Bag:

Friend Cheadle Van Fleet, Jr.

Akron, Ohio

From football practice to his bunk. That was a daily round trip for Van. Just how he managed to make the grades he did by following this schedule has remained a mystery. Frequent tangles with the Executive Department convinced him, finally, that they were not at all afraid of him. With a friendly smile as an introduction, Van walked into the Academy determined to continue his climb to the top. Although easy-going in nature, he has an ardent desire to do all of his jobs well. A guy with a fighting heart and the kind of fellow to have around when things begin to get hot—that's Van.

The Class of 1944 was graduated in June 1943 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.

Friend Cheadle Van Fleet, Jr.

Akron, Ohio

From football practice to his bunk. That was a daily round trip for Van. Just how he managed to make the grades he did by following this schedule has remained a mystery. Frequent tangles with the Executive Department convinced him, finally, that they were not at all afraid of him. With a friendly smile as an introduction, Van walked into the Academy determined to continue his climb to the top. Although easy-going in nature, he has an ardent desire to do all of his jobs well. A guy with a fighting heart and the kind of fellow to have around when things begin to get hot—that's Van.

The Class of 1944 was graduated in June 1943 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.

Life & Loss

Unable to find any information about Friend's life or loss. He is buried in Ohio.

He was married to Wanda "Sandy" McKinney; they had one or possibly two daughters.

(Note that Friend is identified as "III" instead of Jr.; believe this an error based on her birthdate, which was four years after his.)

Memorial Hall Error

Every source found — including the Annual Register of the United States Naval Academy 1943-1944 and previous editions, the Lucky Bag, and his gravestone indicate his last name was spelled with a space. It appears as one word in Memorial Hall.

Class of 1944

Friend is one of 66 members of the Class of 1944 in Memorial Hall.

• ← Thomas Ware, Jr. '44
• Edwin Scorza '44 →