Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1924 Lucky Bag:

THEODORE CONGER MARSHALL

Ted

Class Football (4, 1); Numerals; Class Boxing (4).

“TED’S” good fellowship reached an apex of development at the Army Game, when he valiantly defended a civilian against a horde of embattled farmers. They must have been farmers, for their coats were off. “Ted’s” protege was in evening dress, good form and congenial disposition. The two became such friends that “Ted” invited him to the Naval Academy any week-end, promising a decidedly high time, since the Duty Officers meant nothing to him. In fact, he would put his charming new friend in midshipman’s uniform, which no doubt would be quite a treat for a civilian who had never seen Annapolis. After a few more encouraging remarks concerning the inefficiency of D. O.’s, they parted in Philadelphia. Monday morning “Ted” walked into a section room and saw his recent friend in the pathetic role of instructor—his sleeves encircled with gold braid. This is a convincing demonstration of the democratic spirit prevailing at our institution and “Ted” has done credit to his Alma Mater in this respect.

Loss

Ted was lost on August 9, 1933 when the seaplane he was aboard crashed near Pearl Harbor. Four other crewmen were also lost; Ted was identified as a student pilot.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Theodore graduated from Long Beach Polytechnic high school in 1919. Elective Course. As a member of Masque and Sandal, he played Willis Campbell in “The Mouse Trap.”

He was a member of the Second Presbyterian Church in Long Beach.

Ted had just arrived in Honolulu from Los Angeles on the S. S. Malolo on June 29, 1933. Ted grew up in Long Beach with the family’s last address of 942 Loma Vista. His father George was a manager of a gas company in 1910 and a real estate and insurance agent in 1920. His mother was Mary, and his brothers were William, George Jr., and John.

Theodore had taught Jacqueline Cochran to fly. With her 12-year-old niece, she flew from Florida to attend his funeral services in Long Beach. Her plane developed engine trouble in Salt Lake City, so they flew by passenger plane to Long Beach.

He earned his wings as naval aviator #3682 on July 28, 1930.

Theodore is buried in California.

Photographs

From The Los Angeles Times on August 10, 1933

From his high school yearbook

Related Articles

Charles Hill, Jr. ‘27 was also lost in this crash.

Navy Directories & Officer Registers

The "Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps" was published annually from 1815 through at least the 1970s; it provided rank, command or station, and occasionally billet until the beginning of World War II when command/station was no longer included. Scanned copies were reviewed and data entered from the mid-1840s through 1922, when more-frequent Navy Directories were available.

The Navy Directory was a publication that provided information on the command, billet, and rank of every active and retired naval officer. Single editions have been found online from January 1915 and March 1918, and then from three to six editions per year from 1923 through 1940; the final edition is from April 1941.

The entries in both series of documents are sometimes cryptic and confusing. They are often inconsistent, even within an edition, with the name of commands; this is especially true for aviation squadrons in the 1920s and early 1930s.

Alumni listed at the same command may or may not have had significant interactions; they could have shared a stateroom or workspace, stood many hours of watch together, or, especially at the larger commands, they might not have known each other at all. The information provides the opportunity to draw connections that are otherwise invisible, though, and gives a fuller view of the professional experiences of these alumni in Memorial Hall.

Memorial Hall Error

Ted’s given name is “Theodore;” this is what is in the Officer Registers and on his headstone. Memorial Hall has “Ted.”