HOWARD R. HEALY, LCDR, USN

Howard Healy '22

Date of birth: March 28, 1899

Date of death: May 8, 1942

Age: 43

Lucky Bag

From the 1922 Lucky Bag:

HOWARD RAYMOND HEALY

Chelsea, Massachusetts

"Pop"

WE HAVE sought for some word that would fit "Pop," but there is only one—lazy. He is too lazy to be true. We have sought the height of laziness and it is "Pop!" A man who knows a 4.0 and will not drag her because it is too much work rates the prize in laziness.

A savoir from Massachusetts, "Pop" became a regular subscriber to The Saturday Evening Post, the Red Book, the Cosmo, the Boston Herald and the Christian Science Monitor during Plebe Year when he could coast along just short of starring on his inherent ability plus what he remembered from twelve months at M.I.T. The time that he spent keeping sat in reading would have starred him easily. In athletics "Pop" has made his mark in the Mexican brand: if you were to ask him to exert himself, the most probable reply would be, "What do you think I am, a f-o-o-l?"

"Kissh Popah!"

HOWARD RAYMOND HEALY

Chelsea, Massachusetts

"Pop"

WE HAVE sought for some word that would fit "Pop," but there is only one—lazy. He is too lazy to be true. We have sought the height of laziness and it is "Pop!" A man who knows a 4.0 and will not drag her because it is too much work rates the prize in laziness.

A savoir from Massachusetts, "Pop" became a regular subscriber to The Saturday Evening Post, the Red Book, the Cosmo, the Boston Herald and the Christian Science Monitor during Plebe Year when he could coast along just short of starring on his inherent ability plus what he remembered from twelve months at M.I.T. The time that he spent keeping sat in reading would have starred him easily. In athletics "Pop" has made his mark in the Mexican brand: if you were to ask him to exert himself, the most probable reply would be, "What do you think I am, a f-o-o-l?"

"Kissh Popah!"

Loss

Howard was lost when USS Lexington (CV 2) was sunk on May 8, 1942 in the Battle of the Coral Sea. He was the ship's damage control officer.

His wife was listed as next of kin; he was also survived by two sons, Howard, Jr. (age 9 in 1943) and Thomas (age 7). Howard Jr. retired a Navy Captain and naval aviator; Thomas was killed in a car crash in 1962 while an Ensign in submarine school.

Biography

From Wikipedia:

Healy was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1922. After serving on various ships of the fleet and as an instructor at the Naval Academy, Healy commanded Dorsey (DD-117) 1937–1939.
After a tour at Naval Torpedo Station, Newport, R.I., Comdr. Healy reported 13 March 1941 as Damage Control Officer on board Lexington. During the Battle of the Coral Sea, Lexington took two torpedoes and two bomb hits 8 May 1942, and despite heroic damage control could not be saved.
Commander Healy died on board and was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star for his courage, leadership, and professional excellence during the battle to save his ship. Commander Healy perished at his battle station.
Commander Healy lived at 236 Roswell Avenue, Long Beach, California at the time of his death

Bronze Star

Unable to find the citation of the Bronze Star he was awarded.

Namesake

"Kearny, New Jersey, July 4 1943, holding bottles in their hands that they smashed against the prows of the vessels named for their husbands, both former Lieutenant Commanders, Mrs. Ralph Hickox (Left) of Washington D.C., Mrs. Howard R. Healy of Long Beach, California, participated in the launching ceremonies for the destroyers USS Hickox (DD-673) and USS Healy (DD-672) respectively on July 4 1943, at the Kearny Shipyards of U.S. Steel's Federal Shipbuilding Company. Their husbands, both Naval Heroes, died in action in the present war. Photo courtesy of the Acme Newspictures."

USS Healy (DD 672) was named for Howard; the ship was sponsored by his widow.

Class of 1922

Howard is one of 27 members of the Class of 1922 in Memorial Hall.