CAPT NORMAN ST. AMAND, USMC

Class 1959

Born May 16, 1937

Died May 2, 1965

Age 27

Hometown Derry, New Hampshire

Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1959 Lucky Bag:

NORMAN ST. AMAND

Seventh Company

Norm comes to us with a fine background having been an all state center and president of his high school class. Here at the Academy, wrestling on the Plebe and varsity teams gained for him marked attention. He also played football Plebe year. Norm was noted for his willingness to meet someone new. He was seen dragging one or two girls each weekend. After graduation he plans to go to Pensacola to begin a career in aviation. His friends will remember him for his even temper, always-present sense of humor, and ability to get along with all.

Loss

Norman was lost on May 2, 1965 when the T-28 jet trainer he was aboard crashed in New Hampshire while on a training mission.

Other Information

From Nashua Telegraph on May 3, 1965:

DERRY, N. H. (AP) - Two Marine Corps officers were killed Sunday when a T-28 single engine jet trainer crashed into a wooded hillside and burned just north of the Massachusetts-New Hampshire line. They were Capt. Norman St. Amand, 27, of Quantico, Va., and Capt. Redmomd R. Jensen, 32; of Chicago, both stationed at the Quantico Marine base in Virginia. Witnesses said the jet circled above Derry, then lost altitude, skimmed across Big Island Pond and flipped over. Careening upside down, it cut a 50-yard swath through tall pine trees and then struck the hillside. The bodies were identified by St. Amand’s brother, Clarence of Derry, who said the two Marine captains had flown over his house moments before the crash. Col. Gardner Mills of nearby Grenier Air Force Base in Manchester said the men had flown there Saturday from Quantico, logging flying time, and were headed for Stewart Air Force Base in upstate New York. From there, they were to have returned to Quantico.

From researcher Kathy Franz:

In 1950 Norman’s father was Joseph Serephin St. Amand, age 56, mother Simone, and brother Clarence, age 11. His father was a door-to-door salesman for a bleach manufacturer. This was his second marriage.

Norman was engaged to Barbara Elizabeth Morris in May 1961. A fall wedding was planned.

On December 13, 1962, Norman’s plane collided with another Marine Corps jet fighter on a night training mission and plunged into the Atlantic off the eastern tip of Parris Island, South Carolina. Both pilots were rescued safely by helicopter after two hours in icy water. The planes were attached to Aircraft Group 32 stationed at the Marine Air Station in Beaufort.¹

Norm is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.