JOHN E. BLACK, LTJG, USN
John Black '38
Lucky Bag
From the 1938 Lucky Bag:
JOHN EDWARD BLACK
Hopedale, Ohio
Blacky, Black-John
John is the perfect roommate and friend. His only vices are reading Esquire and living in Ohio during leaves. Johnny is the white sheep of the Black family and is undoubtedly the most vermillion of Red Mikes. However, he never gets blue; it's his indefinable attitude towards life that makes him look cheerfully on the system he is always trying to undermine. John follows amateur radio avidly and handles a fast transmitting key. He appreciates good music both classical and swing. The "Iron Man" is capable of horrible puns and grotesque cartoons. He is a strong football fan and sports prophet and spends his spare time proving Navy can beat Army by hundreds of points. John's perseverance will drive him to success. A real specimen—that man!!
Radio Club 4; Ensign.
JOHN EDWARD BLACK
Hopedale, Ohio
Blacky, Black-John
John is the perfect roommate and friend. His only vices are reading Esquire and living in Ohio during leaves. Johnny is the white sheep of the Black family and is undoubtedly the most vermillion of Red Mikes. However, he never gets blue; it's his indefinable attitude towards life that makes him look cheerfully on the system he is always trying to undermine. John follows amateur radio avidly and handles a fast transmitting key. He appreciates good music both classical and swing. The "Iron Man" is capable of horrible puns and grotesque cartoons. He is a strong football fan and sports prophet and spends his spare time proving Navy can beat Army by hundreds of points. John's perseverance will drive him to success. A real specimen—that man!!
Radio Club 4; Ensign.
Loss
John was lost when USS Utah (AG 16) was sunk on December 7, 1941 during the Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor.
His mother was listed as next of kin. There is a memorial plaque at the Utah State Capitol building as well as the USS Utah Memorial in Pearl Harbor, HI honoring the 54 men who died on December 7, 1941.
Career
John was commisioned an Ensign on June 2, 1938 and assigned to the USS Saratoga (CV-3). In 1940 he was transferred to an Aircraft Battle Force assignment and by the end of 1941 was aboard the USS Utah (BB-31).
On January 25, 1943 the Navy posthumously awarded John a letter of commendation "for exceptional courage, coolness and devotion to duty while serving aboard the U.S.S. Utah, during the Japanese attack on the United States Pacific fleet in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941."
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
