Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1942 Lucky Bag:

BRUCE MORTON McKALSON

Mac

Crew 4, 3, 2, 1; NA-10; 2 Stripes.

Big, blond, and terrific, but he could never convince himself that the college man doesn’t have the advantage over the midshipman. That’s the fellow the men in ‘42 (and also certain nearby and far-away young ladies) have come to know and love. While pulling a rugged crew oar and maintaining his academic and femme standing, he has built up an enviable circle of friends among the men of the Regiment.

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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

Bruce was lost on September 10, 1946 when the plane he was aboard crashed on Saipan.

Other Information

From the Boston Globe on September 23, 1946:

QUINCY, Sept. 23— Word has been received from the Navy Department by his wife of the death of Lt Com Bruce M. McKalson, USN, 28, in a plane crash on Saipan, on Sept. 10.

The widow is the former Helen Harrington, daughter of the late Dr. and Mrs. Daniel J. Harrington of Dorchester,. who has been living here with her brother for the last two and a half years during the absence of her husband overseas. Her brother is Daniel J. Harrington Jr., of 11 Plover road.

Com McKalson was born in Portland, Ore., and was graduated from Oregon State College and from the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1942. He served first on the U. S. S. Salt Lake City and later on the U. S. S. Boston. In 1945, he was graduated from naval flight school and served as a squadron commander on the famous carrier U. S. S. Princeton. He was executive officer of a carrier at the time of his death.

From researcher Kathy Franz:

He was the youngest of three sons to Raymond and Jennie McKalson. He and his brother Donnell were freshmen at Oregon State College in 1936-37. They belonged to Beta Theta Pi together. In 1938-39 school year, Donnell won either first or second place in the individual competition during ROTC Day 5/25/1939. Their drill company beat University of Oregon 280 to 265 points and won a bronze plaque. No mention of Bruce that year, but he would have been at the Naval Academy then. Their oldest brother was Ward.

Bruce is remembered at the Courts of the Missing in Hawaii.

Wartime Service

He served aboard USS Salt Lake City (CL 25) for nine months from February through November 1942.

Photographs

From the Lucky Bag

From the Boston Globe on September 23, 1946