Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1944 Lucky Bag:

George Gallagher Hart

G-square left the peaceful like of Washington and Jefferson and the trout streams of the Appalachians in search of excitement — to become a midshipmite. His stocky frame and broad shoulders easily gained for him starring positions on the battalion football and track squads. When not engaged in these activities, he was a serious student of horizontal engineering. A lover of the best in music, he could find friends among the admirers of either Dorsey or Beethoven. We will remember Moose for his never-failing good humor, his natural sense of comradeship, and his high ideals, that are always appreciated and looked for by brother officers.

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The Class of 1944 was graduated in June 1943 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.

Loss

George was one of twenty-three officers and crew lost aboard USS Sigsbee (DD 502) on April 14, 1945, when she was struck by a kamikaze just aft of the number five gun mount.

He was the assistant gunnery officer and had served aboard since September 20, 1943.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

George played tackle for the Connellsville High School football team in 1937.

His father George was manager of marble and granite company for memorials and buildings. His mother was Edith. His brother Alex named his fourth child, a girl, for George. She was born September 14, 1945.

From the Daily Courier on April 28, 1945:

Lieutenant (j.g.) George Gallagher Hart, 23 years old, who had been serving aboard a destroyer in the Pacific Theater of Operations, was killed in action in that area, according to a Navy Department telegram to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Edward Hart of Poplar Grove, Friday.

Lieutenant Hart, who was born in Pittsburgh, was graduated from Connellsville High School with the Class of 1939 and had taken an active part in football with the Cokers. He went to Washington & Jefferson College for a year before being appointed to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., graduating with the commission of an ensign in June, 1943.

Lieutenant Hart had been assigned to duty with his destroyer in September, 1943. The last word received from him was dated April 11. He was a member of the First United Presbyterian Church.

Surviving are his parents, one brother, Alex Hart of Lancaster, Ohio, and three sisters, Mrs. Patricia Hart Moore, who is serving with the WAVES in Norfolk, Va. and Florence and Edith Mary, at home.

George has a memory marker in Pennsylvania.