Notable Entries
Below are some of the many, many notable articles on the site; they are listed here as an example of the countless stories of service, sacrifice, courage, perseverance, and heroism in Virtual Memorial Hall.
Please also see the Medal of Honor page -- which is inclusive of all alumni, not only those killed in action or other operations -- and the list of alumni awarded the Navy Cross.
1863: BENJAMIN H. PORTER, LT, USN
Benjamin Porter 1863 - extensive personal history. Commanding officer of Admiral Porter's flagship and led assault on Fort Fisher.
1875: WILLIAM V. W. REILY, 2LT, USA
William Reily 1875 - non-grad, KIA at Little Big Horn (aka Custer's last stand). Son of William Reily 1847 and namesake of William Van Wyck 1847, both of whom perished at sea in the same vessel.
1903: JOHN RODGERS, CDR, USN
John Rodgers '03 - an engaging and amazing story about first plane to attempt to fly nonstop to Hawaii from the mainland.
1911: HARRY A. FLINT, COL, USA
Harry Flint '11 - non-grad USNA, West Point '12. CO 39th Infantry Regiment, friend of Patton, killed on patrol. (He was 56 years old!) Distinguished Service Cross, 3x Silver Star.
1919: DIXIE KIEFER, COMM, USN
Dixie Kiefer '19 - First naval aviator to take off from ship at night. XO ofYorktown at Battle of Midway; lost his leg. CO ofTiconderoga when she took kamikaze hit; wounded but survived. Navy Cross, Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star. Extensive bio.
1920: FRANK H. CONANT, II, LT, USN
Frank Conant, II '20 - early aviation pioneer & air racer with Jimmy Doolittle.
1921: FRANCIS J. BRIDGET, CAPT, USN
Francis Bridget '21 - Patrol Pilot turned Naval Battalion commander on Bataan and Corregidor.
1930: FRANCIS H. WILLIAMS, LTCOL, USMC
Francis Williams '30 - Very detailed documentation of his heroic actions on Corregidor
1930: HAROLD W. BAUER, LTCOL, USMC
Harold Bauer '30 - Best biography, by far, on the site.
1932: NATHANIEL M. DIAL, LT, USN
Nathaniel Dial '32 - Navy Cross; grandson wrote a book and created a documentary. "Last Ring Home"
1934: JOHN A. BUTLER, LTCOL, USMC
John Butler '34 - KIA Iwo Jima, long multi-part article on John's battalion.
1935: LAWRENCE L. EDGE, CDR, USN
Lawrence Edge '35 - 3x Navy Cross. Two kids, nice writeup in 2015.
1937: EDWARD H. O'HARE, LCDR, USN
Edward O'Hare '37 - Medal of Honor, fighter ace, namesake of Chicago's airport.
1938: FRANK B. QUADY, LCDR, USN
Frank Quady '38 - pilot, KIA on Mitscher's staff in kamikaze attack onBunker Hill off Okinawa. Many photographs and nearly day-by-day wartime record.
1939: WILLARD B. HOLDREDGE, CAPT, USMC,
WILLIAM F. HOGABOOM, CAPT, USMC, &
CARTER B. SIMPSON, CAPT, USMC
Willard Holdredge '39 and William Hogaboom '39 - both POW from Bataan, both Navy Cross, both killed in sinking of POW ship. Carter Simpson '39 extremely similar, with wartime diary that is simply incredible.
1939: WILLIAM F. HARRIS, LTCOL, USMC
William Harris '39 - captured at Corregidor, escaped, captured again, witnessed Japanese surrender. Battalion CO KIA in Korea; Navy Cross.
1941: PATRICK D. FLEMING, COL, USAF
Patrick Fleming '41 - extensive Wikipedia entry detailing his (relatively) long career. Ace pilot, Navy Cross.
1942: GEORGE T. WEEMS, LCDR, USN
George Weems '42 - regimental commander, silver star, Distinguished Flying Cross x 2, LIFE magazine profile, book published after death
1948: ROBERT N. SMITH, COL, USMC
Robert Smith '48 - Pilot, subject of 1978 documentary and 1995 CBS News profile.
1948: ROGER M. NETHERLAND, CAPT, USN
Roger Netherland '48 - Pilot, extensive remembrances by family and friends, pictures.
1950: JOHN R. DUNHAM, CAPT, USAF
John Dunham '50 - 35 years to return ring, 40 years to return remains. Extensive write-ups.
1952: ROBERT G. BELL, MAJ, USAF
Robert Bell '52 - Lost in Vietnam accident, was final candidate for Mercury mission, Thunderbird pilot who interviewed with (and then flew with) Johnny Carson, Experimental Flight Test Pilot School graduate, Navy exchange pilot, Naval War College graduate.
1957: JOHN E. BARTOCCI, LCDR, USN
John Bartocci '57 - extensive remembrance by daughter
1964: WILLIAM A. GRIFFIS, III, CAPT, USMC
William Griffis, III '64 - Captain, USMC, daughter did Gold Star Children documentary series, extensive remembrances by others.
1964: MICHAEL R. COLLINS, LT, USN
Michael Collins '64 - SEAL, extensive remembrance by teammate.
1964: PETER T. RODRICK, CDR, USN
Peter Rodrick '64 - son wrote a book about him; exceptionally good excerpt on his page.
1966: DONALD G. DROZ, LT, USN
Donald Droz '66 - Riverine SWO, extensive remembrances, subject of film.
1967: BARTON S. CREED, LCDR, USN
Barton Creed '67 - Pilot, extensive remembrances by family and friends.
1968: MELVIN S. DRY, LT, USN
Melvin Dry '68 – SEAL, operational loss finally acknowledged as KIA in 2008.
1981: CARY P. JONES, ENS, USN
Cary Jones '81 was the first female Naval Academy alumni lost in military operations, as well as the first female naval aviator.
1983: ROBERT T. BIANCHI, LT, USN
Robert Bianchi '83 - one of two brothers in Memorial Hall; exceptionally heartfelt and long remembrances by fiancee.
1995: MEGAN M. MCCLUNG, MAJ, USMCR
Megan McClung '95 was the first female Naval Academy alumni killed in action, and the first female officer of Marines to be killed in Iraq.
1995: DOUGLAS A. ZEMBIEC, MAJ, USMC
Douglas Zembiec '95 - Lion of Fallujah. Extensive remembrances.
2004: BRENDAN LOONEY, LT, USN &
TRAVIS J. MANION, 1LT, USMC
Brendan Looney '04 and Travis Manion '04 were roommates and are buried next to one another in Arlington National Cemetery.
