DELBERT L. NALL, LT, USN

Delbert Nall '50

Date of birth: May 16, 1927

Date of death: March 3, 1960

Age: 32

Lucky Bag

From the 1950 Lucky Bag:

DELBERT L. NALL

Stockton, California

Del has always managed to keep that wonderful suntan, as all of his friends will testify. But where did he hide his sun lamp? Outside of keeping track of his soap on cruise, Del's only worry seemed to be which queen to drag, for a glance at the many pictures on his locker door was proof that Del did have cause for indecision. Del devoted himself to battalion football, wrestling, track, and swimming in the way of sports; and being an old Pacific salt, he spent many happy hours on the knockabouts and yawls while at the Academy, thinking of home.

DELBERT L. NALL

Stockton, California

Del has always managed to keep that wonderful suntan, as all of his friends will testify. But where did he hide his sun lamp? Outside of keeping track of his soap on cruise, Del's only worry seemed to be which queen to drag, for a glance at the many pictures on his locker door was proof that Del did have cause for indecision. Del devoted himself to battalion football, wrestling, track, and swimming in the way of sports; and being an old Pacific salt, he spent many happy hours on the knockabouts and yawls while at the Academy, thinking of home.

Loss

Delbert was lost on March 3, 1960 when the F4D-1 Skyray he was piloting crashed near Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia.

Other Information

From USNA 1950, formerly at http://usna50.mysite.com/1960-1969.htm:

Del served on USS Boxer, then won his wings at Pensacola. He joined VC-33 at Atlantic City, NJ, studied at the Navy Post Graduate School and MIT. He then joined VF-74 at NAS, Oceana, VA, and met his death there in an aircraft accident.

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Delbert and his twin brother Darrell graduated from Stockton High School with the Spring class of 1945. From the yearbook: "Many of the boys are in the Navy, Marines, or Army and some of the girls, too, are working in defense plants or are trying to finish their education. These were unusual times for the class – trying to concentrate upon their school work when their country was needing young men and women to help it win the war and a lasting peace."
In September 1945, Delbert was named as first alternate for the Naval Academy by California Congressman Leroy Johnson.
In July 1951, Delbert was at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola where he served as an usher at the wedding of his classmate Ensign J. Kendrick Noble, Jr. Ensign Noble was the author of Ploob: The Fortunes and Misfortunes of a Midshipman's First Year at the United States Naval Academy.

Delbert is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.