LT JOHN P. ESPOSITO, USN

Class 1968
Born February 9, 1947
Died June 25, 1974
Age 27
Hometown Orange, Connecticut

Lucky Bag Yearbook

Lucky Bag Portrait

JOHN PHILIP ESPOSITO

Hailing from Connecticut, Jack entered the Naval Academy directly from Notre Dame High School in West Haven.

“The Little Wop” often known as “Espo 67” has been very active at USNA in sailing as a skipper. To further his future Naval Career, Jack has been majoring in Aerodynamics and plans to go into Naval Aviation.

It has been very interesting to follow Espo’s life from week to week. Variety is the spice of life seems to be his motto.

No matter whether or not its girls or the Navy, there is no doubt of his success in the future.

Loss

John was lost on June 25, 1974 when his A-7E Corsair II (BuNo 158023) “crashed while validating a new computerized weapons delivery system” near Naval Weapons Center China Lake, California.

Other Information

From the October 1974 issue of Shipmate:

Lt. Esposito was a native of Orange, Conn., and a graduate of Notre Dame High School in West Haven, Conn. Following graduation from the Naval Academy with the class of 1968, Lt. Esposito graduated from jet flight training in March 1970 and was awarded a master’s degree in aeronautical systems from the University of West Florida. While in flight training at the Naval Air Station in Kingsville, Tex., he won the “High Flyer Award” for being in the top ten percent of his class. Lt. Esposito was a veteran of two combat tours in Vietnam.

Among his decorations were the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, the Presidential Unit Citation, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Lt. Esposito is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John C Esposito of Orange, Conn., by a brother, Robert Esposito; and a sister, Mrs. Fred Weis.

He is buried in Connecticut.

Photographs

James Jones ‘68 and Richard Buzzell ‘68 were also in 22nd Company.

John and Thomas B. West ‘68 were in the same aeronautical systems master’s degree program together.