LT JOHN D. PRUDHOMME, USN
Lucky Bag Yearbook
From the 1961 Lucky Bag:
JOHN DOUGLAS PRUDHOMME
Jack (Choo Choo) , came to the Academy after attending Ohio State for one year. Being athletically minded Jack played plebe soccer, lacrosse, and wrestled, having had no previous experience in any one of these three sports. He mastered the skills of lacrosse and soccer well enough to play varsity for his remaining three years at the Academy, earning his letter in lacrosse Youngster Year. Despite his devotion to athletics Jack made the Superintendent’s List Plebe Year and was a better than average student the other three. He also had the honor of being class secretary Youngster and Second Class Years. Jack intends to go Navy Air, and his outstanding record while at the Academy points to a most successful career as a naval aviator.
Elsewhere in the Lucky Bag:
The class officers’ responsibility was giving direction to our class efforts. Through class activities we became a more cohesive group and developed intra-class friendships. The Class President was responsible for both the management of the Brigade Executive Committee and the Class Honor Committee. The vice-president performed the same duties in his absence. The Secretary handled all the correspondence in addition to taking minutes for the Class Honor Committee and Brigade Executive Committee. The Treasurer handled our Class funds and records. It was through the efforts of these officers that we were successfully able to form and carry out our class policy.
And also:
Led by co-captains Dick Stengel and Jack Prudhomme Navy’s soccer team completed what coach Glenn Warner called the toughest season ever attempted by a Navy Squad. A 7-2-2 record was capped with victories over Army and Air Force. After having beaten Haverford, Bucknell, Brockport, Gettysburg, and Swarthmore, the only blemishes on the record were a close contest with Penn State and a loss to Westchester, this year’s runner-up to the national championship. Offensively, the team was led by Dick Stengel, Jim Noonan, Fred Farber, and Willie Tirado. Tirado’s four goal effort against Gettysburg was the best of the season. The team was anchored defensively by Jack Prudhomme, Bob Hill, Gordie Callender, and goalie Dick Kievit.
Loss
John was killed in action on December 22, 1965 when his A-4 Skyhawk was shot down over North Vietnam.
Other Information
From Find A Grave:
Lieutenant Prudhomme was a member of Attack Squadron 76, Carrier Air Wing 9 aboard the Aircraft Carrier USS ENTERPRISE (CVAN-65). On December 22, 1965, he was the pilot of a Douglas Attack Aircraft Skyhawk (A-4C) about 15 miles northeast of Haiphong, North Vietnam when he was shot down.
He was survived by his wife, Patricia, a son, David, and a daughter, Robin. (Information from February 1966 issue of Shipmate.)
Remembrances
From Wall of Faces:
I had the pleasure of growing up with Jack at Wright Patterson AFB from 1948 until 1955. I lost track of Jack but I graduated from West Point (61) and was an an Air Force pilot. I finally made it to the “wall” and I am sorry it took me so long. Rest in Peace Jack–Well Done! PHILLIPS W. SMITH, PHILLIPSWSMITH@YAHOO.COM, 5/25/09
Distinguished Flying Cross
From Hall of Valor:
(Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant John Douglas Prudhomme (NSN: 0-647889), United States Navy, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on 22 December 1965, during an attack against a key North Vietnamese power installation.
General Orders: All Hands (September 1967)
Action Date: December 22, 1965
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant
Related Articles
John Wiley ‘61 was also a member of 11th Company.
Other
John’s Naval Academy ring is in the United States Naval Academy Museum class ring collection1.
References
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Previously accessible at http://jennadscholz.org/omeka/exhibits/show/class-rings/class-rings/prudhomme ↩︎
John is one of 23 members of the Class of 1961 on Virtual Memorial Hall.
