LEONARD V. DUFFY, LT, USN

From USNA Virtual Memorial Hall
Leonard Duffy '29

Date of birth: September 11, 1906

Date of death: March 26, 1942

Age: 35

Lucky Bag

From the 1929 Lucky Bag:

1929 Duffy LB.jpg

LEONARD VINCENT DUFFY

Oak Park, Illinois

"Lem" "Haman" "Duff"

PLEBE summer was almost over when one night, far away in the Windy City, Lem felt the call. And so forthwith he came. He is like that; when he decides upon anything, he does it. Loyola University, where he had been studying for a year, was just as sorry to witness his exodus there as we were happy at his advent here. He immediately began to turn to on the piano in Smoke Hall where he would entertain nightly after chow. How that man can play!

For two years his histrionic talents were dominant, but during Second Class year he demonstrated in the Masqueraders how a detective should detect without the aid of even Watson or the needle.

He is an ideal wife, always disagreeing in anything whether it be for the sake of argument or just to be ornery, and he is never borrowing clothes. But be that as it may, he has a sparkling sense of humor, and is always ready with a pun. He has not the "Navy Line" of which we sometimes hear; he is rather humorously sincere. Although he has not decided upon his final objective in life, all who know him are assured that he will maintain his place among men.

Chairman Gymkhana. Cheer Leader 2, 1. Director Gymkhana. Editor TSB News. Jazz Band 4. Log Staff 2. Lucky Bag 2, 1. Masqueraders 2, 1. Musical 4, 3, 2, 1. N.A.C.A. 4. Pep Committee 2, 1, Secretary Treasurer. Sub-Squad 3, 2. G.P.O.

1929 Duffy LB.jpg

LEONARD VINCENT DUFFY

Oak Park, Illinois

"Lem" "Haman" "Duff"

PLEBE summer was almost over when one night, far away in the Windy City, Lem felt the call. And so forthwith he came. He is like that; when he decides upon anything, he does it. Loyola University, where he had been studying for a year, was just as sorry to witness his exodus there as we were happy at his advent here. He immediately began to turn to on the piano in Smoke Hall where he would entertain nightly after chow. How that man can play!

For two years his histrionic talents were dominant, but during Second Class year he demonstrated in the Masqueraders how a detective should detect without the aid of even Watson or the needle.

He is an ideal wife, always disagreeing in anything whether it be for the sake of argument or just to be ornery, and he is never borrowing clothes. But be that as it may, he has a sparkling sense of humor, and is always ready with a pun. He has not the "Navy Line" of which we sometimes hear; he is rather humorously sincere. Although he has not decided upon his final objective in life, all who know him are assured that he will maintain his place among men.

Chairman Gymkhana. Cheer Leader 2, 1. Director Gymkhana. Editor TSB News. Jazz Band 4. Log Staff 2. Lucky Bag 2, 1. Masqueraders 2, 1. Musical 4, 3, 2, 1. N.A.C.A. 4. Pep Committee 2, 1, Secretary Treasurer. Sub-Squad 3, 2. G.P.O.

Loss

Leonard was lost when USS Atik (AK 101) was sunk by a German submarine 300 miles east of Norfolk, Virginia on March 26, 1942. None of her crew survived the sinking and a large explosion as the ship sank.

The Naval History and Heritage Command has details of the Q-ship program (where merchant ships were outfitted with hidden guns) and of Atik's brief history.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Leonard graduated in 1924 from St. Ignasius High School in Chicago. Duff’s ability to entertain a crowd by means of his facility at tickling the ivories gives him a prominent place on our list of merry-makers. Leonard was always the central figure of the belated smoking room crowd. He has garnered first honors without a break for four years. In track, he ran the 100 and 220 yard dashes. Class Prophecy: In the Café Americanique in Paris . . . at an ivory grand piano was Len Duffy, pounding away at the keys. In October, 1942, Leonard among others was honored representing St. Ignatius High School in Chicago at its fall festival and reunion.

In June 1933, he was assigned to 697th Co Civilian Conservation Corps 22nd., Jd District and assigned to CCC Camp F-35, Upper Cispus. In December 1933, he was released from 1231 Co., Camp #F-4, Upper West Side Highway [Iona Island, New York] and departed with CCC Cadre for Camp Dix, New Jersey.

In February and March 1934, he was executive officer of Company 1244, CCC Tompkins Corners, New York. In April 1934, a roster of Camp Dix, New Jersey, reported he was Jd and attached temporary duty w/CCC from Co. 1231, Bear Mountain, New York.

Leonard married Ethelyn Eleanor Brown on July 14, 1933, in San Francisco. They later divorced. They had one daughter, Nancy Ann.

His father was Charles, a postal carrier, and his mother was Annie (McCarville.) His brothers were Charles and Emmett, and his sister was Helen.

His daughter was listed as next of kin.

Leonard had previously commanded (until before June 4, 1940) USS Napa (AT 32) in the Philippines.

Photographs

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 1929
Ensign, USS Colorado

Others at this command:
October 1929
Ensign, USS Colorado

Others at this command:
January 1930
Ensign, USS Colorado

Others at this command:
April 1930
Ensign, USS Colorado
October 1930
Ensign, USS Tillman
January 1931
Ensign, USS Augusta

Others at this command:
April 1931
Ensign, USS Augusta

Others at this command:
July 1931
Ensign, USS Augusta

Others at this command:
October 1931
Ensign, USS Augusta

Others at this command:
January 1932
Ensign, under instruction, Naval Torpedo Station, Newport, Rhode Island

April 1932
Ensign, under instruction, Naval Torpedo Station, Newport, Rhode Island

October 1932
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Augusta


Others at or embarked at this command:
ENS Clifford Janz '31 (Scouting Force)
January 1933
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Augusta


Others at or embarked at this command:
ENS Clifford Janz '31 (Scouting Force)
April 1933
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Augusta

Others at this command:

Others at or embarked at this command:
ENS Clifford Janz '31 (Scouting Force)
July 1933
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Augusta

October 1933
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Augusta

April 1934
Lieutenant (j.g.), Receiving ship, New York
July 1934
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Bridge
October 1934
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Bridge
January 1935
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Bridge
April 1935
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Philip
October 1935
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Philip

Others at this command:
January 1936
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Philip

Others at this command:
April 1936
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Philip

Others at this command:
July 1936
Lieutenant (j.g.), commanding officer, USS Eagle 52
January 1937
Lieutenant (j.g.), 4th Naval District

Others at this command:
April 1937
Lieutenant (j.g.), 4th Naval District

Others at this command:
September 1937
Lieutenant (j.g.), 4th Naval District
January 1938
Lieutenant, 4th Naval District
July 1938
Lieutenant, for assignment, 16th Naval District

January 1939
Lieutenant, USS Heron
October 1939
Lieutenant, commanding officer, USS Napa
April 1941
Lieutenant, USS Washington


Class of 1929

Leonard is one of 29 members of the Class of 1929 on Virtual Memorial Hall.

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