JONATHAN S. COE, LT, USN
Jonathan Coe '55
Lucky Bag
From the 1955 Lucky Bag:
JONATHAN SHELDON COE
Hampton, Virginia
Having taken an Honor Military School competitive exam for his appointment, Jon never found academics to be a problem. When not on liberty, he could be found in one of three places — in the rack, in the boathouse, or in the rack. The first and third took preference over everything, as was established by his all-time record on cruise. Navy air almost got him with the N3N, but he claims salty air and rolling seas will never be the cause for insomnia. The Norfolk area being his home, ships have long been in the mind of this man for Navy line.
He was also a member of the 24th Company Winter Leadership.
JONATHAN SHELDON COE
Hampton, Virginia
Having taken an Honor Military School competitive exam for his appointment, Jon never found academics to be a problem. When not on liberty, he could be found in one of three places — in the rack, in the boathouse, or in the rack. The first and third took preference over everything, as was established by his all-time record on cruise. Navy air almost got him with the N3N, but he claims salty air and rolling seas will never be the cause for insomnia. The Norfolk area being his home, ships have long been in the mind of this man for Navy line.
He was also a member of the 24th Company Winter Leadership.
Loss
Jonathan was lost on June 24, 1960 when his Navy jet fighter plane crashed in the Atlantic Ocean east of Mayport, Florida, after being catapulted from USS Saratoga (CV 60). He was assigned to Fighter Squadron 101 at Key West Naval Air Station and was with a detachment training aboard Saratoga.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Neither the plane nor his body were recovered. Memorial services were held at Grace Episcopal Church in Newport News.
Jonathan graduated from Fork Union Military Academy in 1951.
He married Margaret Anne Windler at the Hampton Christian Church in Newport News, Virginia, on June 12, 1955. Their children were Jonathan Matthew, Dana Patrick, and Elizabeth Ann.
In February, 1956, Jonathan was attending Engineer’s School in Newport, Rhode Island.
Jonathan and his family moved to Pensacola in January, 1958, where he attended Naval Aviation School.
In October, 1959, Jonathan was stationed at Cherry Point, North Carolina. He and his wife attended the Class of 1955 reunion at the Officers’ Club at Fort Story in Virginia.
Survivors were his wife and children; father Charles Bernard, a shipyard engineer; mother Anne; and three sisters Ann, Phoebe and Catherine.
Jon has a memorial marker in Michigan.
Photographs
From the Lucky Bag
From the yearbook of the Fork Union Military Academy
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