JOHN O. R. COLL, LCDR, USN

John Coll '27

Date of birth: September 30, 1902

Date of death: January 21, 1943

Age: 40

Lucky Bag

From the 1927 Lucky Bag:

John Owen Reilly Coll

Jeffersonville, Indiana

"Reilly"

AFTER perusing academics at Jeffersonville High, Marion Institute and University of Louisville, this young Irishman came to the Academy to round out his extensive education.

Perhaps it is the ready wit and pleasing personality found in all true sons of Erin that makes him such a welcome companion under any and all circumstances.

However that may be, there is no doubt that if he had been born in the era of the "Golden Fleece" instead of the "Golden Bug" he would have been the favorite of Venus and Morpheus. He loves to sleep or, if not, in slumber to lie on his bed and discourse on sundry and various matters. He is a very good listener and a born conversationalist.

Reilly proudly traces his ancestry to the land of the Shamrock, in fact, to County Donegal, "where they ate potatoes, skins and all." But don't get the impression that he follows the example of McSwiney and forbears from eating, for one of his many accomplishments is the art, chowing, and it is a treat to sit at his table and watch the food disappear with unfailing regularity.

His previous military education has enabled him to thoroughly enjoy his service with the King's Guard, and he has shown himself to be a thorough student of military tactics.

John Owen Reilly Coll

Jeffersonville, Indiana

"Reilly"

AFTER perusing academics at Jeffersonville High, Marion Institute and University of Louisville, this young Irishman came to the Academy to round out his extensive education.

Perhaps it is the ready wit and pleasing personality found in all true sons of Erin that makes him such a welcome companion under any and all circumstances.

However that may be, there is no doubt that if he had been born in the era of the "Golden Fleece" instead of the "Golden Bug" he would have been the favorite of Venus and Morpheus. He loves to sleep or, if not, in slumber to lie on his bed and discourse on sundry and various matters. He is a very good listener and a born conversationalist.

Reilly proudly traces his ancestry to the land of the Shamrock, in fact, to County Donegal, "where they ate potatoes, skins and all." But don't get the impression that he follows the example of McSwiney and forbears from eating, for one of his many accomplishments is the art, chowing, and it is a treat to sit at his table and watch the food disappear with unfailing regularity.

His previous military education has enabled him to thoroughly enjoy his service with the King's Guard, and he has shown himself to be a thorough student of military tactics.

Loss

John was lost on January 21, 1943, when the aircraft he was aboard crashed near Ukiah, California while enroute from Pearl Harbor to San Francisco. The flying boat, a Pan Am Clipper, was being operated by Pan Am employees but was a contracted Navy flight, and all ten passengers were Navy officers.

He was the gunnery and torpedo officer on the staff of Commander, Submarines Pacific.

He was survived by his wife; they are buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Legion of Merit

From Hall of Valor:

(Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Commander John O. R. Coll, United States Navy, was awarded the Legion of Merit (Posthumously) for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as gunnery and Torpedo Officer on the staff of Commander Submarines Pacific from the outbreak of hostilities in 1941 to January 1943.

General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 355 (October 1946)
Service: Navy
Rank: Commander

Related Articles

Robert English '11, Donald Godwin '11, Robert Smith '20, John Crane '26, Francis Black '26, William Myers '26, and George Stone '31 were also lost in the crash of Pan Am Flight 1104. Eight of the ten passengers were Naval Academy graduates.

Class of 1927

John is one of 43 members of the Class of 1927 on Virtual Memorial Hall.

• ← Thomas Oberrender, Jr. '27
• Eugene Lindsey '27 →