THOMAS H. YOUTZ, MIDN, USN
Thomas should not be included in Memorial Hall for the reason listed at the bottom of this page. However, this entry remains so we do not lose his memory or the knowledge of his life and service.
Thomas Youtz '68
Thomas Howard Youtz was admitted to the Naval Academy from "Qual. Alt & Comp." on June 30, 1964 at age 18 years 2 months. His date of birth is given in that edition of the Naval Academy Register. Per the article below, he was a graduate of Glendora High School, California.
Lucky Bag
Thomas is not mentioned in the 1968 Lucky Bag.
Loss
From The Harlan News-Advertiser of Harlan, Iowa on August 1, 1966:
Mr and Mrs Allen Scheel received the news of the drowning of their nephew, Tom Youtz, 20, of Glendora, Calif. The drowning occurred in a canal between Southern California and Mexico while the youth was on an outing with two other friends. Reports indicate that he dived into the canal and never returned to surface. Tom had just completed his second year at the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, and had only recently returned from a two weeks' Navy cruise to Hawaii. He spent the summer of 1963 with the Allen Scheel family. His parents are Mr. and Mrs. Howard Youtz. His mother is the former Henrietta Scheel. Mrs Allen Scheel and son Allen left this weekend to attend the funeral services in California.
The Capital from Annapolis, Maryland on January 27, 1968 carried an article "Youtz Room Dedicated to Memory of Midshipman Drowning Victim". The 29th Company wardroom was dedicated to Tom's memory. "Midshipman Youtz died on July 17, 1966, when he drowned in an irrigation ditch in Mexico while on summer leave. He was a 1964 graduate of Glendora High School, where he was a member of the student council, varsity football and basketball teams."
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
In high school, Thomas was Commissioner of Athletics 4; Scholarship Club 1, 2, 3, 4; Varsity Football 3, 4; Varsity Basketball 3, 4; Baseball 2, 3, 4; A C. S. F. Life member; yearbook staff. Editor’s Farewell: Tommie, whose last name is Yutz, Got the prize for the most unmarked cuts. He’s seen on each page, So that in his old age, It appears that this year he did luts.
He was appointed to the Naval Academy by Rep. Glen Lipscomb, R-Calif.
Parents were Mr. and Mrs. Howard Youtz. He was a loan officer with a realtor company; she was a schoolteacher.
Thomas is buried in California.
Photographs
All photographs located by researcher Kathy Franz.
Photo from newspaper article announcing his acceptance to the Naval Academy
Photo from his high school yearbook
Photo from his high school yearbook
Photo from his high school yearbook
Memorial Hall Error
Thomas' loss was not operational and he should not be listed in Memorial Hall.