Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1945 Lucky Bag:

Charles Evan McBride

Varsity Crew 4, 3, 45; Boat Club 4, 3, 1; Spanish Club 4, 3, 1

Whenever a Plebe says that he is from Ohio we always make it a point to send him around to see Mac. Yes, Mac has lived in Akron, Ohio, all his life and spent two years at Akron University before entering the Naval Academy. A believer in physical fitness, Mac has taken an active part in many of the sports offered at the Academy including crew, tennis, swimming, and handball. Many of the fellows have accused him of getting up early in the morning, and we cannot deny that, but believe it or not it has been only for a pre-reveille swim. Mac’s indifference toward the fair sex has broken many hearts but his winning smile and personality will never be forgotten.

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The Class of 1945 was graduated in June 1944 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.

Loss

Charles was killed in action on June 6, 1945 at Okinawa. He was a member of Company B, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 6th Marine Division.

Unable to find any specific details of Charles’ service or loss, but the 6th Marine Division was heavily involved in the Battle of Okinawa at the time.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

In addition to being a member of Phi Delta Theta at the Unversity of Akron in 1940, Charles was platoon guide for Company D.

He was appointed to the Naval Academy by Rep. Dow W. Harter to enter as a substitute for Philip Smith who was declared to have insufficient credits. However, when Charles arrived at the Academy, he found out that Smith arranged to make up his credits. Disappointed, he returned home, but later Congressman Stephen Young of Cleveland awarded his vacancy to Charles.

From the Akron Beacon Journal on June 22, 1945:

FOLLOWING his graduation from Annapolis, Lieutenant McBride entered the marines. He was sent to Camp Pendleton, Cal, and from there to Guam with the Sixth division.

He wrote home June 1—his regular weekly letter. “Next time I write—a week from now—the fighting on Okinawa should be all over,” he told his parents. But when next week came, he was dead.

A graduate of Buchtel high school and a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity at Akron university, he served as stroke on his crew rowing team and was active in tennis at Annapolis naval academy. McBride took a month’s cruise to Panama as a naval reserve on the “U.S.S. Wyoming” while at Annapolis

He leaves, besides his parents, a brother, Technical Sergeant Joseph, now in the air corps at Langley Field, Va.. and a sister, Mrs. Sarah Stenacker of Toledo.

Photographs

From the Akron Beacon Journal on June 22, 1945.

From an Akron University yearbook.

From The Akron Beacon Journal on June 17, 1941

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Donald Hall ‘45, John Beahan ‘45, John Lusby ‘45, and Joseph Bolger, Jr. ‘45 were also in 14th Company.