Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1974 Lucky Bag:

Stephen George LaBarre

One evening during a “professional discussion”, Midshipman Labarre 4/c was asked about something called a F-14. Thus began a love affair between Steve and “his” aircraft. He almost got shot down though, as USNA/DTSS reared its ugly head. Realizing that he was studying far too much, Steve headed for Mahan Hall, and the many study hours spent on Masquerader’s plays miraculously improved his grades. Seem odd?? Consider then, that he has never studied beyond 10:30 P.M. during his stay and you will understand LaBarre’s Law: grade quality is inversely proportional to perspiration. When Steve leaves USNA, the Navy will receive an idealistic young man whose dream is to be:
“…that stranger who rode
     into town one
and out of town the next –
     whom for special reasons no
one could ever forget
     come, war, come anguish, come love.”

Loss

Stephen was lost on March 22, 1978 when the SH-3 Sea King he was piloting crashed near Fallon, Nevada. He was a member of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 4, which was based at North Island Naval Air Station, California.

Other Information

From the July-August 1978 issue of Shipmate:

A native of Pennsylvania, he was graduated with the Class of 1974. While at the Naval Academy he was an active participant in the Masqueraders. Upon graduation he was temporarily assigned to VA-15 until October 1974 when he entered flight training. In January 1976 he completed this training and then specialized in the Sea King twin-turbine amphibious ASW helicopter as a replacement pilot. He was serving with HS-4 at NAS, North Island, San Diego, as a helicopter second pilot and as the squadron training officer at the time of his death.

He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Vernon LaBarre of Pen Argyl, PA; and a brother, Lt. (jg) Alan LaBarre USN serving in USS Jason (AR-8).

From “The Express” on March 24, 1978 and via Frankenfield Beam Genealogy¹:

Stephen G. LaBarre, 25, Son of Pen Argyl Couple, Crash Victim

Lt. J. G. Stephen G. LaBarre, 25, of 566 Orange Ave., Coronado, Calif., was one of five men who were killed in a helicopter crash Wednesday near Fallon, Nev.

He was a son of Vernon and Lois Jean LaBarre, Treeline Drive, Pen Argyl, PA.

The U. S. Navy announced that SH-3 Sea King anti-submarine helicopter was assigned to the helicopter squadron 4, based in the North Island Naval Air Station, San Diego, Calif. The crew was on a routine training flight from the Fallon Station in an isolated area 15 miles east of Fallon when the crash occurred at approximately 12:45 p.m.

An investigation is being conducted to determine the cause of the accident.

Born in Kingston, Pa., he was a 1970 graduate of Coatesville High School and later graduated from the U. S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md. He was an Eagle Scout.

Surviving in addition to his parents are two brothers, Lt. J.G. Allan K. LaBarre, San Diego, Calif, and Jeffrey D., a student at the University of Cincinnati, Ohio; a sister, Sandra at home; maternal grandmother, Mrs. Nellie Seibert, Bangor and paternal grandmother, Mrs. Arla LaBarre, Bangor, WA.

He is buried in Pennsylvania.

Photographs

From the July-August 1978 issue of _Shipmate_.

Related Articles

Craig Reynolds ‘73 was also lost in this crash.

References