LT WILLIAM M. CHEWNING, USN
Class
1942
Born
October 22, 1919
Died
November 16, 1943
Age
24
Hometown
Richmond, Virginia
Lucky Bag Yearbook
From the 1942 Lucky Bag:
WILLIAM MURRAY CHEWNING
Football 4, 3, 2, 1, N*: Boxing 4, b42t, P.P.O.
Football has been Bill’s main interest since he came to the Academy. Next to his football comes studying and sleeping but they were always incidental. His influence has been definite and lasting and it will be a long time before we shall forget his caustic humor or sharp criticism of our drags. What of his? They were all perfect, of course. So, more power to you, Bill, and may the Marines appreciate you as much as we have.
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
William was lost when USS Corvina (SS 226) was sunk on November 16, 1943 by a Japanese submarine.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
William attended St. Christopher’s School, Richmond, Virginia, graduating in 1938.
He married Betsey Stickney Johnson on March 6, 1943, at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Arlington, Massachusetts. He next went to New London, Connecticut, for submarine school.
He has a memory marker in Virginia and his wife was listed as next of kin.
Photographs
 is his classmate and also in Memorial Hall.](/honorees/lt-william-m-chewning-usn/1942_Chewning_4.jpg)
Class of 1942
William is one of 81 members of the Class of 1942 on Virtual Memorial Hall.
