LTJG HENRY B. RATHBONE, USN

Class 1947

Born September 13, 1925

Died August 4, 1951

Age 25

Hometown Providence, Rhode Island

Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1947 Lucky Bag:

Henry Brownell Rathbone

We are convinced that the combination of Rhode Island and Harvard can turn out a rather ultra product. When it comes to excelling, Hank is way ahead, be it at academics, dragging, or bridge. But his specialty is baseball, about which he is ready to converse long and hard at any time. Almost any happy hour you can find him mauling over the sporting news or defiantly defending his favorite team, even though it usually ends up in the lower brackets. Hank’s various talents have won him a great popularity, his sincerity and frankness have won him the everlasting friendship of those who are his classmates.

He was a member of the soccer team.

The Class of 1947 was graduated in June 1946 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.

Loss

Henry crashed on takeoff due to partial power failure of his F4U-4 Corsair fighter from USS Boxer (CV 21) on August 4, 1951. He was departing on a combat mission near Korea at the time.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Henry graduated from Moses Brown School in 1943. He was a member of the Chapter of Cum Laude. The year before, Henry was president of the Fourth Form. Student Activities Committee, Dance Committee, Athletic Association, Baseball, Soccer, Track, Proscenium Club (dramatics.)

His father Clifford was a building contractor and later an architectural engineer for a home mortgage company; mother Dorothea, and sister Dorlinda. In 1935, they lived in Bristol, Massachusetts.

He has a memory marker in Rhode Island.

Photographs

From his high school yearbook

Joseph Melesky ’47 and Roy Anderson ’47 were also members of the soccer team.

Class of 1947

Henry is one of 29 members of the Class of 1947 on Virtual Memorial Hall.