Miguel Nava '17
On February 7, 2024 Captain Miguel Nava, USMC '17 was killed in a helicopter crash. Please consider a donation to his family to honor his service, and the incredible sacrifice of his wife and five-month-old son.

JOHN C. PATTY, JR., LT, USN

From USNA Virtual Memorial Hall
John Patty, Jr. '37

Date of birth: April 4, 1915

Date of death: March 1, 1942

Age: 26

Lucky Bag

From the 1937 Lucky Bag:

1937 Patty LB.jpg

JOHN COCKRELL PATTY, JR.

Shaw, Mississippi

"Marse" "Patsy" "Julius"

Coming here from a freshman year at the University of Alabama, the Marse did not find the Academy too tough and has taken it in his stride. He has radiated an abundance of energy in many directions and has proved himself an all 'round capable fellow. Always amusing, the Marse has been welcome everywhere. Crew and basketball have both seen a good bit of Patsy. Never taking them too seriously, he has proven himself able in both. His specialty, however, for which he will be long remembered, is dragging blind. A little persuasion finds him a ready victim.

Crew 4, 3. Basketball 2, 1. Reception Committee 3, 2, 1. Boat Club 2, 1. Two Stripes.

1937 Patty LB.jpg

JOHN COCKRELL PATTY, JR.

Shaw, Mississippi

"Marse" "Patsy" "Julius"

Coming here from a freshman year at the University of Alabama, the Marse did not find the Academy too tough and has taken it in his stride. He has radiated an abundance of energy in many directions and has proved himself an all 'round capable fellow. Always amusing, the Marse has been welcome everywhere. Crew and basketball have both seen a good bit of Patsy. Never taking them too seriously, he has proven himself able in both. His specialty, however, for which he will be long remembered, is dragging blind. A little persuasion finds him a ready victim.

Crew 4, 3. Basketball 2, 1. Reception Committee 3, 2, 1. Boat Club 2, 1. Two Stripes.

Loss

John was lost when USS Houston (CA 30) was sunk on on March 1, 1942 during the Battle of Sunda Strait. He was in charge of the secondary conning station.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

His brother was one year younger, but it looks like John graduated young 1932 as he went to U of Alabama the next year, and his brother Jack perhaps 1934.

A star athlete and outstanding student, John graduated from Shaw High School in 1932. He was mostly known as “J. C.”

He was survived by his wife Alice, and children J. C. III, Bobby, age 9 and Joan, age 6. In 1935 they lived in Paris Island, South Carolina, and in 1940 in Long Beach, California.

His father John/Jack who ran a drug store died in September 1941; mother Ayleen; and his younger brother Jack became an attorney and joined the U.S. Army in January 1943.

His wife was listed as next of kin. He is listed at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial.

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.

July 1938
Ensign, USS Nevada

January 1939
Ensign, USS Wasmuth
October 1939
Ensign, staff, Battle Force, USS California

Others at or embarked at USS California:
LT Gus Lofberg, Jr. '27 (USS California)
ENS Hugh Rimmer '37 (USS California)
ENS West Payne '38 (USS California)
ENS Montrose McCormick '39 (USS California)
ENS Charles Stapler '39 (USS California)


Class of 1937

John is one of 48 members of the Class of 1937 on Virtual Memorial Hall.

QR code

The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.