SEYMOUR D. OWENS, CDR, USN

Seymour Owens '31

Date of birth: February 21, 1910

Date of death: July 24, 1944

Age: 34

Lucky Bag

From the 1931 Lucky Bag:

Seymour Dunlop Owens

Coronado, California

"Sey" "Sunshine"

Sunshine came to us from Coronado and has never stopped telling us of the glories and wonders of the Golden West. Like all Navy juniors he has traveled from place to place, but Coronado High School and Severn War College prepared him for the ranks of the Pampered Pets.

He often can be found over in the gym, though none of its squads hold any terror for him; for he is a past master in this line and he looks forward to the day when he can take his shirt off without unbuttoning his collar. And, needless to add, this enthusiast's shoulders have touched the mat less frequently than those of his opponents.

He is the envy of us all. Indifferent to girls, a good dancer, he has the ability to make all of us forget our troubles, smiling them away; for no one who knows him can think of anything but Sunshine.

Sey is fond of the Academy and its traditions. He sang "T'ain't no more plebes" as loudly as any, and looks forward to "Thank Allah we're out of the wilderness."

Plebe Baseball Class Football 3, 2, 1; Numerals; Wrestling 3, 2, 1; w31t 3; Crew 2, 1; 2 P. O.

Sey was a member of the Crew Team.

Seymour Dunlop Owens

Coronado, California

"Sey" "Sunshine"

Sunshine came to us from Coronado and has never stopped telling us of the glories and wonders of the Golden West. Like all Navy juniors he has traveled from place to place, but Coronado High School and Severn War College prepared him for the ranks of the Pampered Pets.

He often can be found over in the gym, though none of its squads hold any terror for him; for he is a past master in this line and he looks forward to the day when he can take his shirt off without unbuttoning his collar. And, needless to add, this enthusiast's shoulders have touched the mat less frequently than those of his opponents.

He is the envy of us all. Indifferent to girls, a good dancer, he has the ability to make all of us forget our troubles, smiling them away; for no one who knows him can think of anything but Sunshine.

Sey is fond of the Academy and its traditions. He sang "T'ain't no more plebes" as loudly as any, and looks forward to "Thank Allah we're out of the wilderness."

Plebe Baseball Class Football 3, 2, 1; Numerals; Wrestling 3, 2, 1; w31t 3; Crew 2, 1; 2 P. O.

Sey was a member of the Crew Team.

Loss

Seymour was lost on July 24, 1944 when USS Norman Scott (DD 690) was damaged by shore battery fire during the invasion of Tinian. He was the ship's commanding officer and received a Navy Cross for the action. Twenty-two of his officers and men were also lost.

He had command of Norman Scott since her commissioning on November 5, 1943.

Saipan

In Norman Scott's Plan of the Day for June 14, 1944 — the day before the invasion of Saipan — he wrote the following in the notes section:

Admiral Norm Scott has been out of the scrap since November 12, 1942. He fights again today -- let's make him proud. I count on each of you to do your duty. I know you will not fail. S.D. Owens

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

While Seymour was at the Naval Academy both his parents died. His mother Elsie died in 1929. His father William, who had been commander of the medical corps, died in 1930.
Seymour was one of the honorary pallbearers for Ensign Cassin Shoemaker '31 in June, 1931.
On November 6, 1931, Seymour gave his sister Anna in marriage to his former roommate Ensign Nathan Warman (’31.)
Seymour married socialite Patricia Donavin on August 28, 1936, in Mission Dolores, California. Their son born June, 1940, was also named Seymour.
In 1938 Seymour had injured his back and was in a cast.
Seymour’s grandfather was Lt. Charles Seymour (N. A. 1868) (1847-1883.) His great-grandfather was Commodore John Guest (1822-1879.)

Seymour is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. His wife was listed as next of kin.

Photographs

From the Orlando Evening Star on June 18, 1931
From The San Francisco Examiner on August 29, 1936

Navy Cross

From Hall of Valor:

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Commander Seymour Dunlop Owens, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the Destroyer U.S.S. NORMAN SCOTT (DD-690), during operations at Tinian in the Northern Marianas Islands on 24 July 1944. Detailed to cover the left flank of a feint landing south of Tinian town to draw enemy fire away from the actual landings to the north, Commander Owens maneuvered his ship perilously close inshore in the face of heavy fire from Japanese costal defense guns and skillfully directed effective fire support for the boat waves until he was killed at his post. The conduct of Commander Owens throughout this action reflects great credit upon himself, and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 334 (January 1945)
Service: Navy
Rank: Commander

Bronze Star

From Find A Grave:

For heroic achievement as Commanding Officer of a Close-in Fire Support Ship in action against enemy Japanese forces at Saipan Island on June 14-15, 1944. Operating under difficult navigational conditions and in the face of repeated heavy enemy gunfire, Commander Owens skillfully maneuvered his ship through dangerous waters and effectively directed accurate, concentrated fire against hostile shore batteries, contributing essentially to the success of our forces in the accomplishment of a vital mission. An expert seaman and brilliant leader, Commander Owens was a constant inspiration to the men under his command and his gallant fighting spirit throughout the fierce action was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Namesake

USS Seymour D. Owens (DD 767) was named for Seymour, though the ship was never completed or commissioned.

Memorial Hall Error

Seymour is listed as a LCDR in Memorial Hall; his Navy Cross citation and all other sources have Commander. The Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps of 1944 lists his promotion to Commander to date from November 1, 1942.

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.