WILLIAM S. PYE, JR., LT, USN

William Pye, Jr. '28

Date of birth: January 19, 1908

Date of death: September 30, 1938

Age: 30

Lucky Bag

From the 1928 Lucky Bag:

WILLIAM SATTERLEE PYE, JR.

At Large

"Bill" "Sat"

SAT, as his name implies, has never had any trouble with the Academic Department. He starred Plebe Year, and has stood well in the class ever since, although his study hours have been taken up chiefly by Lucky Bag work, informal entertainment committees and plans, and short story writing; these stories having been written mostly under the impulse of the moment. Occasionally he has been moved to write poetry for the Log, but these spasms are few and far between. Although he is not an athlete, he could hardly be called a member of the Radiator Club.

His highest attainments have been winning the hearts of certain members of the fair sex, masquerading, and organizing small jazz orchestras. In addition, he is quite an accomplished musician, being able to play almost any kind of a stringed instrument.

Several misinterpretations of the Little Blue Bible have awarded Bill the privilege of wearing a Black N with a small constellation of seven stars above it, but that only remains in his memory as days of pleasant rest and oblivion.

Gymkhana Cast (2); Chess Club (3, 2); Star (4); Masquerader Cast (2, 1); Class Tennis (4); Swimming Class (3, 2), Plebe Varsity, Numerals (4); Lucky Bag Staff (3, 2, 1); Class Baseball; Two Stripes.

Loss

From Find A Grave:

Lieutenant (Junior Grade) W. S. Pye, USN, was designated Naval Aviator #3709 in 1930. Graduated U.S. Naval Academy, Class of 1928.

Lieutenant Pye and Aviation Cadet Charles Frederick Erickson, USNR, members of Fighting Squadron (VF) Three, died when their carrier-based fighter aircraft, operating from the aircraft carrier USS SARATOGA (CV-3), collided off the So. Calif. coast. LT Pye's body was never recovered.

LT Pye's widow was the former Miss Della Douglass Pease.

William has a memory marker in Arlington National Cemetery, with his brother, on their parent's headstone.

Family

William's father was a Vice Admiral and 1901 US Naval Academy graduate who retired with 44 years of service, including acting Commander in Chief of the US Pacific Fleet and president of the Naval War College.

Related Articles

His brother, John Pye '39, was lost in January 1945 when USS Swordfish (SS 193) was sunk in combat.

Class of 1928

William is one of 17 members of the Class of 1928 in Memorial Hall.

• ← Robert Pierce '28
• Julian Leggett '28 →