JAMES H. EVERSOLE, ENS, USN
James Eversole '43
Lucky Bag
From the 1943 Lucky Bag:
JAMES HEDGES EVERSOLE
Columbus, Ohio
Entering the academy the year of his brother's graduation, Jim left a promising medical career for the life of a sailor. Even though he did hail from Ohio, it didn't take long to get that tang of the sea air about him. Academics never bothered Salty, with the exception of several recurring tangles with the Math department. His ability to mix track, extra-duty, and basketball with his major sport of gymnastics made him an athlete as well as a math savior, for there are several gold letters on his bathrobe which prove his ability as a gymnast.
He was a member of the gymnastics team.
The Class of 1943 was graduated in June 1942 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
JAMES HEDGES EVERSOLE
Columbus, Ohio
Entering the academy the year of his brother's graduation, Jim left a promising medical career for the life of a sailor. Even though he did hail from Ohio, it didn't take long to get that tang of the sea air about him. Academics never bothered Salty, with the exception of several recurring tangles with the Math department. His ability to mix track, extra-duty, and basketball with his major sport of gymnastics made him an athlete as well as a math savior, for there are several gold letters on his bathrobe which prove his ability as a gymnast.
He was a member of the gymnastics team.
The Class of 1943 was graduated in June 1942 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
Loss
James was lost on August 24, 1942 when USS Enterprise (CV 6) was struck by three bombs from Japanese aircraft at the Battle of the Eastern Solomons.
From the Class of 1943 anniversary book "25 years later…":
Jim was born on 18 June 1919 in South Bloomfield, Ohio. He was appointed from Ohio and entered the Academy on 19 June 1939. Upon graduation he reported to duty aboard the carrier USS ENTERPRISE. On 24 August 1942 slightly more than two months after graduation he was killed at his battle station on the after star board anti-air-aircraft gun battery when the ship was hit by a bomb while under attack by enemy aircraft in the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific. He was entitled to wear the Purple Heart, American Area Defense Service Medal with Fleet Clasp and the Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal. He was survived by his mother, Mrs. H.C. Eversole who at the time of Jim’s death resided at 829 Reinhard Avenue, Columbus, Ohio.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
James' father Henry was a life insurance agent, mother Ruth, brothers John (‘39,) William and Robert, and sisters Jean and Patricia.
His parents were listed as next of kin. He has a memorial marker in Ohio.
He is not related to John Eversole '38; his older brother was named John, but graduated in 1939 and survived his time in the service.
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