Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1942 Lucky Bag:

RICHARD PETER BUKOWSKI

Dick, Mike

Sailing 3; Stars 4; Log 3; Boat Club 4, 3, 2, 1, Ketch Captain; Lucky Bag; Reception Committee 3, 2, 1; C.P.O.

. . . torpedo took shape on paper. Its revolutionary engine develops perpetual motion and signals the flagship the success of its mission. A call from the “B” hole brought the carrot-topped head up sharply. “Sure, I’ll drag with you, Shorty.” At once Rosy was flat on his bunk, and plans for the week-end displaced plans of torpedoes. Any word about dragging brought Emouse into the room. Steam text . . .

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The Class of 1942 graduated on December 19, 1941, less than two weeks after the United States entered World War II. The class had previously been scheduled to graduate in February 1942.

Loss

Richard was lost when USS Ingraham (DD 444) was sunk on August 22, 1942 by a collision with an oil tanker while on convoy duty off the coast of Nova Scotia. Ingraham sank almost immediately, and depth charges on her stern detonated as she went down. Only eleven men survived.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

His father Peter was chief examiner for Reconstruction Finance Corporation - a company that financed war plants. Mother was Gertrude. Siblings: Robert and Edith.

Richard graduated from Lane Technical High School in 1937. Budget Committee 4B-4A; Gavel Club 2A-4B; Tech Prep 2B-3A; Honor Society 3A-4A; 3 Scholarships; Math Club 4A; Student Council 1A-2A. ”And still the wonder grew that one small head could carry all he knew.”

He studied one year at Purdue before entering the Naval Academy. His brother Robert started at West Point in 1940.

Richard is remembered at the Tablets of the Missing in Manhattan, New York.

Photographs

From the Lucky Bag

From his high school yearbook

From Chicago Tribune on July 21, 1940