Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1951 Lucky Bag:

James Patrick Kelley

Jim left his home in Ohio and joined the Navy because he had always hoped to go to the Naval Academy . . . alter his discharge from the enlisted Navy, he entered the Academy, achieving his boyhood ambition . . . academics weren’t easy and he had to study his share of the time, but always managed to come out on top . . . he is always willing to do some favor for someone else . . . his find sense of humor brightened many days for those who were around him . . . golf, eating, and sleeping are his favorite pastimes . . . Jim hopes to join the “Tailhook” Navy after graduation . . . his successful years here as a midshipman will be followed by many more successful years as a fine naval officer. . . .

Loss

J.P. was lost when his F9F-7 Cougar crashed near NAS Oceana, Virginia on November 13, 1953.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

James graduated from St. Peter’s schools, St. Joseph’s Academy at Collegeville, Indiana; and Bullis school at Washington, D. C. He was a former News-Journal newspaper carrier in Mansfield.

On June 16 1945, he registered at the Local Board No 1 for Richland County at Mansfield, Ohio. He was 5’10”, 145 lbs., with hazel eyes. He worked for the National Ice company. His father Patrick was a production manager for a brass manufacturing company.

Congressman J. Harry McGregor named James as first alternate to the Naval Academy in November 1945. In October 1946, McGregor named James as principal nominee to enter the Naval Academy on July 1, 1947. James was studying at the Naval Training Center in Bainbridge, Maryland, in preparation for the entrance examination.

After graduating from the Naval Academy, James was to serve on USS Salem in the Mediterranean. He entered flight training at Pensacola in June 1952.

He was survived by his parents, two brothers, and two sisters; he is buried in Ohio.

Photographs

From the News Journal on June 25, 1953

From the News Journal on November 14, 1953