MATTHIAS M. MARPLE, JR., LT, USN

From USNA Virtual Memorial Hall
Matthias Marple, Jr. '23

Date of birth: April 26, 1899

Date of death: October 30, 1935

Age: 36

Lucky Bag

From the 1923 Lucky Bag:

1923 Marple LB.jpg

Mathias Morris Marple, Jr.

Bridgeport, Connecticut

I SAY old "Toppy" it is a jolly fine day—what say you to a few holes of golf and a cold plunge in the neighboring pool? Our Maw-rice has lived with the blooming Englishmen so long that he has acquired the aristocratic accent and air to a shocking degree. On entry "Marp" became one of our illustrious Plebe summer Four Stripers and was then the very essence of regness. He still carries with him that air of earnestness, and has a tendency to cock his head just a little when his ideas are set. At times his nature is like the famous Connecticut wooden nutmeg—a hard nut to crack. His one weakness is the ladies! O, you Lordship and Kristiania! Talking of speed the boy is a demon. For further information inquire of the track coach or Stratford's only motor-cycle cop. He is a chap who knows but one code, that of being square, generous and meeting people on the half way mark.

"Hey, you in the steerage, come up for air!"

Track Squad (4, 3, 2); Football Squad (4, 3, 2); Penn Relays (3, 2); Expert Rifleman.

1923 Marple LB.jpg

Mathias Morris Marple, Jr.

Bridgeport, Connecticut

I SAY old "Toppy" it is a jolly fine day—what say you to a few holes of golf and a cold plunge in the neighboring pool? Our Maw-rice has lived with the blooming Englishmen so long that he has acquired the aristocratic accent and air to a shocking degree. On entry "Marp" became one of our illustrious Plebe summer Four Stripers and was then the very essence of regness. He still carries with him that air of earnestness, and has a tendency to cock his head just a little when his ideas are set. At times his nature is like the famous Connecticut wooden nutmeg—a hard nut to crack. His one weakness is the ladies! O, you Lordship and Kristiania! Talking of speed the boy is a demon. For further information inquire of the track coach or Stratford's only motor-cycle cop. He is a chap who knows but one code, that of being square, generous and meeting people on the half way mark.

"Hey, you in the steerage, come up for air!"

Track Squad (4, 3, 2); Football Squad (4, 3, 2); Penn Relays (3, 2); Expert Rifleman.

Loss

Matthias was lost on October 30, 1935 when the plane he was piloting crashed in the Chesapeake Bay. He was flying from Dover to Dahlgren, Virginia, where he was stationed.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Matthias graduated from Bridgeport High School.

He was the best man at the wedding of Ensign Warren Franklin Porter (’25) in July, 1925, in Bridgeport.

On September 1, 1928, Matthias married Florence Frances Pierpont in Pensacola. Their daughter Constance Rust Marple was born on July 15, 1932, in San Diego. She married in June 1959, in Pensacola. Their other daughter was Margery Pierpont Marple born in 1934, in Florida.

Matthias’ father died in March 1933, in Stamford, Connecticut. He was a petroleum heat and power company executive. Matthias’ mother Alice Constance died in September 1900, and is buried on Staten Island.

He earned his wings as naval aviator #3273 in 1926.

He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery; he was survived by his wife.

Photographs

Namesake

Marple Road, aboard Naval Support Facility Dalhgren, Virginia, is named for Matthias.

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 1923
Ensign, USS Tennessee

November 1923
Ensign, USS Tennessee

January 1924
Ensign, USS Tennessee

July 1924
Ensign, USS Litchfield
September 1924
Ensign, USS Litchfield
November 1924
Ensign, USS Litchfield
January 1925
Ensign, USS Litchfield
March 1925
Ensign, USS Litchfield
May 1925
Ensign, USS Litchfield
October 1926
Lieutenant (j.g.), for assignment, Aircraft Squadrons, Battle Fleet, USS Langley


Others at or embarked at USS Langley:
LT Frederick Buse '20 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 2)
LTjg James Carney '21 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 1)
January 1927
Lieutenant (j.g.), Observation Plane Squadron (VO) 1, USS Langley

Others at this command:

Others at or embarked at USS Langley:
LCDR Francis Maile, Jr. '15 (Observation Plane Squadron (VO) 2)
LT Frederick Buse '20 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6)
LTjg Harry Brandenburger '21 (Observation Plane Squadron (VO) 2)
LT John Jones '21 (Aircraft Squadrons, Battle Fleet)
April 1927
Lieutenant (j.g.), Observation Plane Squadron (VO) 2, USS California

Others at or embarked at USS California:
LCDR Henry Cecil '10 (USS California)
LCDR Norman Scott '11 (USS California)
LT Horatio Sickel, IV '20 (USS California)
October 1927
Lieutenant (j.g.), Fleet Air Base, Hampton Roads, Virginia
January 1928
Lieutenant (j.g.), Fleet Air Base, Hampton Roads, Virginia
January 1929
Lieutenant (j.g.), Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 3B, USS Lexington


Others at or embarked at USS Lexington:
LTjg William Graham, Jr. '25 (USS Lexington)
ENS Eugene Karpe '26 (USS Lexington)
ENS Harold Sheehan '27 (USS Lexington)
ENS Richard Downer '27 (USS Lexington)
ENS William Potts '27 (USS Lexington)
April 1929
Lieutenant (j.g.), Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 3B, USS Lexington


Others at or embarked at USS Lexington:
LTjg Jack DeShazo '25 (Light Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B)
LTjg William Graham, Jr. '25 (USS Lexington)
ENS Hilan Ebert '26 (USS Lexington)
ENS Eugene Karpe '26 (USS Lexington)
ENS Harold Sheehan '27 (USS Lexington)
ENS Richard Downer '27 (USS Lexington)
ENS William Potts '27 (USS Lexington)
October 1932
Lieutenant (j.g.), Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B, USS Saratoga


Others at or embarked at USS Saratoga:
LT Van Moore '19 (USS Saratoga)
LTjg Renwick Calderhead '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
ENS Weldon Hamilton '28 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
LTjg William Arthur '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 1B)
LTjg Jacob Britt '29 (USS Saratoga)
LTjg Lloyd Greenamyer '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 1B)
ENS James Clarkson '30 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Byron Newell '30 (USS Saratoga)
ENS James Kyes '30 (Aircraft Squadrons)
ENS Leo Crane '31 (USS Saratoga)
ENS George Stone '31 (USS Saratoga)
ENS George Ottinger '32 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Frank Latta '32 (USS Saratoga)
January 1933
Lieutenant (j.g.), Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B, USS Saratoga


Others at or embarked at USS Saratoga:
LT Jack Richardson '19 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LT Van Moore '19 (USS Saratoga)
LTjg Renwick Calderhead '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
ENS Weldon Hamilton '28 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
LTjg William Arthur '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 1B)
LTjg Jacob Britt '29 (USS Saratoga)
LTjg Lloyd Greenamyer '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 1B)
ENS James Clarkson '30 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Byron Newell '30 (USS Saratoga)
ENS James Kyes '30 (Aircraft Squadrons)
ENS Leo Crane '31 (USS Saratoga)
ENS George Stone '31 (USS Saratoga)
ENS George Ottinger '32 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Frank Latta '32 (USS Saratoga)
April 1933
Lieutenant, Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B, USS Saratoga


Others at or embarked at USS Saratoga:
LT Jack Richardson '19 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LTjg Renwick Calderhead '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
ENS Weldon Hamilton '28 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
LTjg William Arthur '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 1B)
LTjg Jacob Britt '29 (USS Saratoga)
LTjg Lloyd Greenamyer '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 1B)
ENS Mack Vorhees '30 (Aircraft Squadrons)
ENS James Clarkson '30 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Byron Newell '30 (USS Saratoga)
ENS James Kyes '30 (Aircraft Squadrons)
ENS Leo Crane '31 (USS Saratoga)
ENS George Stone '31 (USS Saratoga)
ENS George Ottinger '32 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Frank Latta '32 (USS Saratoga)
July 1933
Lieutenant, Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B, USS Saratoga


Others at or embarked at USS Saratoga:
LT William Sample '19 (Aircraft Squadrons)
2LT Ernest Pollock '28 (Scouting Squadron 14-M)
LTjg William Arthur '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 1B)
LTjg Lloyd Greenamyer '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 1B)
ENS James Clarkson '30 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Byron Newell '30 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Cleon Felton '31 (Aircraft Squadrons)
ENS James Murphy '31 (Aircraft Squadrons)
ENS George Stone '31 (Aircraft Squadrons)
ENS George Ottinger '32 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Frank Latta '32 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Paul Burton '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Robert Fair '33 (USS Saratoga)
October 1933
Lieutenant, Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B, USS Saratoga

Others at this command:

Others at or embarked at USS Saratoga:
LCDR William Sample '19 (Aircraft Squadrons)
2LT Ernest Pollock '28 (Scouting Squadron 14-M)
LTjg William Arthur '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 1B)
LTjg Lloyd Greenamyer '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 1B)
LTjg James Clarkson '30 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Byron Newell '30 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Cleon Felton '31 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
ENS James Murphy '31 (Torpedo Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
ENS George Stone '31 (Aircraft Squadrons)
ENS George Ottinger '32 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Frank Latta '32 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Paul Burton '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Robert Fair '33 (USS Saratoga)
April 1934
Lieutenant, Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B, USS Saratoga

Others at this command:

Others at or embarked at USS Saratoga:
LCDR William Sample '19 (Aircraft Squadrons)
2LT Ernest Pollock '28 (Scouting Squadron 14-M)
LTjg Lloyd Greenamyer '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 1B)
LTjg Charles Ostrom '30 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
ENS James Murphy '31 (Torpedo Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
ENS George Stone '31 (Aircraft Squadrons)
ENS George Ottinger '32 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Frank Latta '32 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Paul Burton '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Robert Fair '33 (USS Saratoga)
July 1934
Lieutenant, Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B, USS Saratoga


Others at or embarked at USS Saratoga:
LT Arnold Isbell '21 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LTjg Charles McDonald '24 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Harold Richards '27 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LTjg Loren Morris '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Carl Lindgren '28 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Robert Patten '30 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LTjg Charles Ostrom '30 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
ENS James Murphy '31 (Torpedo Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
ENS George Stone '31 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Eugene Lytle, Jr. '31 (Aircraft Squadrons)
ENS James Kelsey, Jr. '31 (Aircraft Squadrons)
ENS Bertram Prueher '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Paul Burton '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Robert Fair '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Wendell Froling '34 (USS Saratoga)
October 1934
Lieutenant, Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B, USS Saratoga


Others at or embarked at USS Saratoga:
CDR Walter Webster '11 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LT Arnold Isbell '21 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LT John Jones '21 (USS Saratoga)
LT Charles McDonald '24 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Harold Richards '27 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LTjg Loren Morris '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Carl Lindgren '28 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Bruce Van Voorhis '29 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Robert Patten '30 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LTjg Charles Ostrom '30 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Charles Palmer, Sr. '31 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg James Murphy '31 (Torpedo Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
ENS George Stone '31 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Albert Gates, Jr. '32 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Bertram Prueher '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Paul Burton '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Robert Fair '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Wendell Froling '34 (USS Saratoga)
January 1935
Lieutenant, Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B, USS Saratoga


Others at or embarked at USS Saratoga:
CDR Walter Webster '11 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LT Arnold Isbell '21 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LT John Jones '21 (USS Saratoga)
LT Charles McDonald '24 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Harold Richards '27 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LTjg Loren Morris '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Carl Lindgren '28 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Bruce Van Voorhis '29 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Charles Ostrom '30 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Charles Palmer, Sr. '31 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Ford Wallace '31 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LTjg James Murphy '31 (Torpedo Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
LTjg Edward Blessman '31 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LTjg George Stone '31 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Albert Gates, Jr. '32 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Bertram Prueher '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Paul Burton '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Robert Fair '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Wendell Froling '34 (USS Saratoga)
April 1935
Lieutenant, Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B, USS Saratoga


Others at or embarked at USS Saratoga:
CDR Walter Webster '11 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LT Arnold Isbell '21 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LT John Jones '21 (USS Saratoga)
LT Charles McDonald '24 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Harold Richards '27 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LTjg Loren Morris '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Bruce Van Voorhis '29 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Charles Ostrom '30 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Charles Palmer, Sr. '31 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg James Murphy '31 (Torpedo Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
LTjg Edward Blessman '31 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
ENS Albert Gates, Jr. '32 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Bertram Prueher '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Paul Burton '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Wendell Froling '34 (USS Saratoga)
October 1935
Lieutenant, Naval Proving Ground, Dahlgren, Virginia


Class of 1923

Matthias is one of 25 members of the Class of 1923 on Virtual Memorial Hall.

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