ARTHUR C. DAY, 2LT, USMC
Arthur Day '45
Lucky Bag
From the 1945 Lucky Bag:
Arthur Curtis Day
Jamestown, Rhode Island
Though he has yet seen no service in the U. S. Marine Corps Art is to all intents and purposes a "Gyrene." His interests at the Academy have centered about a serious intention to become a well-equipped fighter. Sketching gun mounts, stripping down weapons, planning beach landings and perusing infantry journals were ways of enjoying leisure hours. This seriousness of purpose was occasionally amusing. On security watch one evening, he was stealthily tracking a would-be saboteur when a change of wind cleared Bill IX of this misnomer and incidentally saved his life. However, come this or any other incident Art will never lack confidence in his choice of profession.
Varsity Lacrosse 4, 3, '45; Battalion Crew 3, 1; French Club 3.
The Class of 1945 was graduated in June 1944 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
Arthur Curtis Day
Jamestown, Rhode Island
Though he has yet seen no service in the U. S. Marine Corps Art is to all intents and purposes a "Gyrene." His interests at the Academy have centered about a serious intention to become a well-equipped fighter. Sketching gun mounts, stripping down weapons, planning beach landings and perusing infantry journals were ways of enjoying leisure hours. This seriousness of purpose was occasionally amusing. On security watch one evening, he was stealthily tracking a would-be saboteur when a change of wind cleared Bill IX of this misnomer and incidentally saved his life. However, come this or any other incident Art will never lack confidence in his choice of profession.
Varsity Lacrosse 4, 3, '45; Battalion Crew 3, 1; French Club 3.
The Class of 1945 was graduated in June 1944 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
Loss
Arthur was killed in action on June 14, 1945 on Okinawa. He was a member of the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
In March 1939, the Rogers High School R. O. T. C. Unit finished fourth in the Corps Area Interscholastic Rifle Matches. Arthur participated and was a Second Lieutenant on the drill squad.
He was nominated to the Naval Academy by Congressman Charles F. Risk.
From the Newport Daily News on June 27, 1945, via the Jamestown Historical Society:
Lieutenant Day, son of Mrs. Day and the late Colonel J. H. A. Day, I.S.M.C., of Friendship street [sic], Jamestown, was killed on Okinawa June 14, according to a telegram received by his mother.
He was born in Manila July, 13, 1923, and came to Jamestown at the age of two years, where his family has since lived. He attended Jamestown schools and was graduated from Rogers High School in 1939. He went to Rhode Island State College for a year, and then attended the Severn Preparatory School in Annapolis, before being admitted to the Naval Academy by the late Congressman Charles F. Risk. He was graduated from the Naval Academy a year ago and selected the branch of the service in which his father served – the Marine Corps. Upon his graduation, he was presented with a sword by the members of his father’s class, the class of 1897. Lieutenant Day’s grandfather, Edward Maynard Day, was a navy lieutenant, his maternal grandparent was Rear Admiral L.C. Logan, and his great grandfather was Admiral David Dixon Porter, one of the three early admirals of the navy.
Lieutenant Day leaves his mother and brother, Commander Edward Maynard Day, USN, now at the Torpedo Station.
He is buried in Hawaii.
(Note: There is another obituary that omits his attendance and graduation from the Naval Academy.)
Related Articles
Conrad Grove, Jr. '45, Lloyd Wyatt, Jr. '45, Robert Billings '45, James Dawley, Jr. '45, Jack Flanagan '45, Alfred Sawyer '45, Richard Hodsdon '45, and John Horn '45 were also in 8th Company.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
