Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1945 Lucky Bag:

John Oliver Horn

Gym 4, 3, 1; Boat Club 4, 3, 1; Glee Club 4, 3, 1; Model Club 4, 3, 1; Radio Club 4, 3, 1; Photographic Club 3

“Skipper,” a curly black-headed southern gentleman, gave up a medical career to follow the life of the sea. He has an Omar Khayyam outlook on life, believing that women, and song are the essence of this and that even the gloomiest situation rates a laugh. One could usually find “Squaw” eating or sleeping, as it seemed that he never got enough of either. He spent much of his time in yacht racing and sailing the yawls and ketches. He also found time for the Glee Club, Model Club, Photographic Club, Radio Club, and Boat Club. He never missed a hop or dragging on weekends. “Skipper” is quick and efficient in doing his work and will undoubtedly be welcomed aboard any naval vessel.

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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

John was lost on November 4, 1955 when the aircraft he was aboard crashed off the coast of Miami, Florida. He was operations officer of Fighter Squadron (VF) 13 and was flying from USS Bennington.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

John’s parents died when he was young, and he was raised by his sister Cumi and her husband Chester Acree.

John graduated from Gulf Coast Military Academy and attended Marion Military Institute for one year. He was appointed to the Naval Academy by Representative Joe Starnes.

In February 1946, John left for New York City to join the Atlantic fleet.

In January 1947, John was at the U. S. Aviation Center in Dallas taking a course. In April, John reported to Corpus Christi for flight training and then was sent to Pensacola. He received his wings on May 27, 1948. Chester Acree visited him in San Diego where he was stationed for about two months. In February 1954, John was stationed in Jacksonville. His last visit to see Chester was in June, 1955.

John was survived by his wife Margaret “Penny” Hanger Horn, their daughter Bonnie Ann, two brothers Felix and Dr. J. R., and one sister Mrs. Cecil Mahone. John was a native of Crenshaw County. His parents were Dr. Joseph Robert Horn who died in 1923, and Florence who died in 1929.

John has one memory marker in Arlington National Cemetery and another in Alabama.

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Conrad Grove, Jr. ‘45, Lloyd Wyatt, Jr. ‘45, Arthur Day ‘45, Robert Billings ‘45, James Dawley, Jr. ‘45, Jack Flanagan ‘45, Alfred Sawyer ‘45, and Richard Hodsdon ‘45 were also in 8th Company.