LTJG THOMAS A. RYAN, USN
Lucky Bag Yearbook
From the 1959 Lucky Bag:
THOMAS A. RYAN
Seventeenth Company
“T.A.,” another of the elite who claims California as his home, came to Crabtown as a well traveled Navy Junior. Academics never troubled Tom too much, and he rarely ever passed up an opportunity to hit the rack if homework was not pressing. For four years Tom was a standout on the company basketball team, leading them to a regimental crown during his Youngster year. He was also a handyman in the Natatorium and on the Academy links. Second Class summer at Pensacola seems to have shown Tom the best way of life for him. Look for him in the wild blue yonder in the near future.
Loss
Tom was lost when his F3H Demon fighter crashed in Southern California on May 16, 1961.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Thomas graduated from Washington-Lee High School in Arlington, Virginia. He received a presidential appointment to the Naval Academy in July 1955.
After graduating from the Naval Academy, he underwent flight training in Pensacola.
When he was killed, he was attached to Navy Fighter Squadron 121 based at Miramar.
Memorial services were held with a requiem mass celebrated at St. Matthew’s Church on May 22. His fellow officers served as honor guard. Interment was in St. Joseph’s Mausoleum, San Pablo.
He was survived by his father, Navy Captain Albert F., Jr. ‘33 and Mrs. Ryan of Alamo; sister Terry, brother Dennis, and grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Fred O’Brien.
He was flying an aircraft belonging to Fighter Squadron (VF) 114.
There is an article about a 2010 Veterans Day hike to the crash site, as well as a video.
Thomas is buried in California.
Photographs
Thomas is one of 32 members of the Class of 1959 on Virtual Memorial Hall.
