JOSEPH M. CAMP, SR., LTJG, USN

Joseph Camp '45

Date of birth: August 12, 1920

Date of death: April 21, 1950

Age: 29

Lucky Bag

From the 1945 Lucky Bag:

Joseph Martin Camp

Nokomis, Alabama

In 1938 Joe left the general store in Nokomis and joined the Navy. From there he came to us with his corncob pipe fuming. Plebe spring he spent in the hospital playing poker to pay his income tax. "The Bo's'un" had plenty of experience in handling NAPC and was given the "sack" early youngster year. As Regimental Sub-Commander the fall of first class year he was senior man on the sub squad. He didn't star, but right or wrong, he could always explain the Steam and Ordinance diagrams to his wives. And never will they forget the night the Admiral's invitation to dinner arrived!

Battalion Football 4; Company Volleyball 3, '45; Boat Club 4, 3, 1; Spanish Club 4, 3, 1; Pep Committee 1

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He was a member of the Regimental Staff (1st set).The Class of 1945 was graduated in June 1944 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.

Joseph Martin Camp

Nokomis, Alabama

In 1938 Joe left the general store in Nokomis and joined the Navy. From there he came to us with his corncob pipe fuming. Plebe spring he spent in the hospital playing poker to pay his income tax. "The Bo's'un" had plenty of experience in handling NAPC and was given the "sack" early youngster year. As Regimental Sub-Commander the fall of first class year he was senior man on the sub squad. He didn't star, but right or wrong, he could always explain the Steam and Ordinance diagrams to his wives. And never will they forget the night the Admiral's invitation to dinner arrived!

Battalion Football 4; Company Volleyball 3, '45; Boat Club 4, 3, 1; Spanish Club 4, 3, 1; Pep Committee 1

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He was a member of the Regimental Staff (1st set).The Class of 1945 was graduated in June 1944 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.

Loss

This was the last known photo of LT JG Joseph Martin Camp Sr. before the plane crash killing him and his entire crew at Mount Hirugatake, Japan. They were en route home back to the States. Posted by Gabriella Camp Schiffman on June 19, 2016.

Wedding photo Jun 9 1944 with Edna Elizabeth Hyers. Posted by Gabriella Camp Schiffman on June 19, 2016.

From Find A Grave:

JOSEPH MARTIN CAMP, born Aug 12, 1920, Nokomis, AL, a red-head, just like his siblings and father. Graduated high school, Atmore, AL in 1936 and just under 16 years of age. He enlisted in the Navy in May 1938. As a Bos'un he was appointed in 1941 to the Naval Academy Class of 1945. Because of wartime acceleration of midshipmen, he graduated in 1944 and was commissioned an ensign.

Two days later, he married Elizabeth Hyers in the Navy Chapel at the Academy.

After a short assignment to Jacksonville, FL, he reported to the Bennington in Bayonne, NJ and was assigned to the Gunnery Department. A plankowner, he was aboard until the ship returned to California after the war. He was detached on Nov. 22, 1945 for assignment in Corpus Christi, TX for flight training. While there, he was promoted to lieutenant jg. Following this, he received his wings in Pensacola, FL where his son Joe Jr. was born.

He was transferred to Jacksonville, FL for training in PBNs and assigned to VP-47 based in Kaneohe, HI where his daughter was born. The squadron was reassigned to Coronado, CA in April 1949, then was on TAD, Sangley Point, PI. He was a passenger aboard an Air Force plane to Tokyo to pick up his PBM and crew on April 21, 1950. The plane crashed on the Island of Honshu, Japan, and all aboard perished. Lt (jg) Camp is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

His medals included the American Defense Service Medal (Fleet Clasp), American Area Campaign Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal and Navy Occupation Service Medal (Asia Clasp). LT (jg) Joseph Martin Camp Sr. was survived by his loving wife, Edna Elizabeth “Liz” Hyers-Camp and his two young children, Joseph Martin Camp Jr. b. 21 Jan 1947 and daughter Nancy Lynn Camp b. 14 Sep 1948.

He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Memorial Hall Error

Joseph was a Sr.; this suffix is omitted in Memorial Hall.

Related Articles

John Shaw '45 was also in 13th Company.

Class of 1945

Joseph is one of 59 members of the Class of 1945 on Virtual Memorial Hall.

• ← Robert P. Murphy '45
• John Lusby '45 →

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