Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1944 Lucky Bag:

Warren Howard Raber

“Ducky” will be remembered by a few as “that big quiet guy”; by others as “that conscientious, steady fellow who was always able to get things done”; and by still others, as “that dammed Fourth Battalion tackle.” But those who really knew him will always see him as the old familiar friend who would pick up the “sack” when it was dropped in his lap by a classmate and finish the job dependably without thinking out loud. Outside of the women whom he was constantly fighting off (except of course the O.A.O. who traditionally played hard-to-get), he had few entangling alliances save with the Navy.

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The Class of 1944 was graduated in June 1943 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.

Loss

Warren was lost on November 10, 1944 when he was struck by debris from the explosion of USS Mount Hood (AE 11) while in Seeadler Harbor, Manus Island, in the South Pacific.

He was apparently stationed aboard USS Young (DD 580), though that ship’s history doesn’t mention the explosion.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Warren attended Maury High School and Hull’s Preparatory School. At the naval academy, he was on battalion football, wrestling, varsity pistol and company softball.

In 1910, his father Howard was on the USS New Jersey in Hampton Roads; in 1920, the USS Arkansas in Bremerton, Washington; 1925-29, the USS Vestal; in 1930, the USS Richmond; and in 1936, on the USS Wyoming. Warren’s mother Marion lived to the age of 104. His brother was August.

His wife, Nell Margaret, was listed as next of kin.

He is buried in Virginia; his headstone reads “Killed in action Southwest Pacific. Reinterred Feb 6 1949”