Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1945 Lucky Bag:

James Albert Reid

Company Basketball 3; Stars 4, 3

Never too busy to help a less “savvy” classmate, Jim was the man-of-the-hour when the company ran into a problem it couldn’t solve. He went through the Academy like a duststorm going through his native state of Kansas. His never-say-die spirit won him many matches in wrestling, his favorite sport, and solved problems that were insoluble to everyone else. Possessor of one of the best record collections in the Academy, Jim’s love for music was exceeded only by his love for his “sack.” With his ready smile, his bridge-playing ability, and his pure horse-sense, Jim shouldn’t have any trouble in Uncle Sam’s Fleet.

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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

Jim was executive officer of Air Anti-Submarine Squadron (VS) 27, flying from USS Randolph (CVS 15), when his plane crashed into the sea off the coast of Virginia on September 2, 1961. His co-pilot was also lost.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

James graduated from Clyde high school.

His father Frank was manager of retail furniture store, mother Ida, sister Helen.

From the November 1961 issue of Shipmate:

The past several weeks has been a black period for the class in that we lost the comradeship of three classmates.

JIM REID and JACK BROWN were killed within a few weeks of each other, both in plane crashes.

He has a memory marker in Arlington National Cemetery; he was survived by his wife, Mildred C. Reid, and mother.

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Robert Brightman ‘45 and Henry Oates ‘45 were also in 6th Company.