Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1945 Lucky Bag:

Joseph Francis Bolger, Jr.

Battalion Pushball 3, 1; Sailing 3, 1

The “Coronado Kid” signed away his life not only to see the world but to see it most transiently—by air. “Jose’s” aspiration to win his wings the hard way, via N. A., is at least in sight, and his eyes are still 20-20 thanks to those vitamin pills and eye charts. Although demure in his manner, Joe from time to time steps into the limelight. Plebe year saw him blow up the Chemistry laboratory and get away with it—well almost, anyway. Youngster year new Plebes anxiously consulted his 5000 card index reference file on naval subjects. First class year has yet to bear fruit, but “The Saga of a Miniature” is striving hard for a first.

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He was a member of the 3rd Battalion staff (2nd set).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

Joseph was lost when the F3H Demon fighter he was piloting crashed while landing aboard USS Oriskany (CVA 34) on July 12, 1963.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

n 1930, Joseph lived with his mother Gladys and brother William in Newport, Rhode Island. In September 1934, the three sailed from New York City to Coronado, California.

Joseph graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1940 in Long Beach, California. General. Math; Navy Jr.; Transfer: Alexandria, Va.; Stage Crew ’37, ’38; Pep; Photography; Transfer: Coronado, Cal.

The North Adams Transcript, November 13, 1940

Washington, Nov. 13 – Rep. Allen T. Treadway of Massachusetts today appointed to Annapolis the son of an Adams man he appointed to the Naval academy 24 years ago.

The boy Rep. Treadway named as his principal candidate is Joseph F. Bolger, Jr. Joseph F. Bolger, Sr., was appointed by the congressman in 1916, as one of the first young men in the district whom Mr. Treadway nominated for Naval academy training after he entered the House in 1913. He is now a lieutenant commander in the navy, stationed at Long Beach, Cal. His son is also residing there at present although the family’s legal residence is still Adams.

Joseph married Catherine Shea the day he graduated. Her father Commander Daniel Shea was also named to the Naval Academy in 1916 along with Joseph’s father. Additionally, Catherine’s brother Daniel, Jr., would begin the academy in 1945. He has a memory marker in Arlington National Cemetery.

He is included on the In Memoriam page of the USS Oriskany (CVA 34) WestPac Cruise Book 1963-64.

His father was a 1921 graduate, retired a Rear Admiral, and was twice awarded the Navy Cross for his actions as Commanding Officer of USS Intrepid (CV 11) during World War II.

Photographs

From his high school yearbook

From his high school yearbook as a member of the Navy Jr club

Related Articles

Donald Hall ‘45, Charles McBride ‘45, John Beahan ‘45, and John Lusby ‘45 were also in 14th Company.

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