Truman Carpenter '32
Date of birth: June 15, 1909
Date of death: January 5, 1938
Age: 28
Lucky Bag
From the 1932 Lucky Bag:
TRUMAN ERNEST CARPENTER
St. Johnsbury, Vermont
"Carp" "Tru" "B. B. B."
"Carp" hails from the rocky hills of Vermont where they don't have a Navy and his life has been one surprise after another ever since he left the little farm back home. Plebe summer "Carp" stepped in the ring for the first time and captured the heavyweight boxing championship of his class. Not content with this he proceeded to paddle one of those shells all over Severn River and its tributaries. His "Youngster" cruise consisted of a shell, a transatlantic liner full of co-eds, and finally a battleship. "Carp" is just six-feet two of good fellowship and a real pal. He doesn't have any trouble with "Acs" though he isn't especially fond of the language they speak in Barcelona. However, he has never had to burn the midnight oil. When "Tru" came to the Academy Plebe year he really had an O.A.O. but now try to count 'em! Oh, no, he isn't a ladies' man though we suspect the ladies wouldn't mind as the weekly and sometimes daily box of fudge proves. "Carp," you have the right stuff and we wish for you and know that you will achieve success.
Plebe Crew; J. V. Crew, NA; Class Boxing; Boxing, NA: Lysistrata Cup; 2 Stripes.
Loss
Truman was lost on January 5, 1938 when the seaplane he was aboard crashed approximately 100 miles from Hawaii while on a training flight. Six others aboard were also lost.
He has a memory marker in California.
Career
Truman began his career as an officer aboard USS Maryland (BB 46). In the 1934 and 1935 Navy Directories he is listed as an Ensign under instruction at NAS Pensacola, Florida. He earned his wings as naval aviator #4157 on October 30, 1935.
The 1936 Navy Directory lists him as a LTjg with Bombing Squadron (VB) 3B, embarked in USS Lexington (CV 2). The Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps of 1937 lists him with Patrol Squadron (VP) 7F.
Related Articles
Clarence Kasparek '32 was in the same flight school class.
Class of 1932
Truman is one of 52 members of the Class of 1932 on Virtual Memorial Hall.
