DOUGLAS H. FOX, LCDR, USN

Douglas Fox '26

Date of birth: March 26, 1905

Date of death: November 13, 1942

Age: 37

Lucky Bag

From the 1926 Lucky Bag:

Douglas Harold Fox

Dowagiac, Michigan

"Doug" "De Haven"

THE term Big-hearted was coined to use on Doug. He gives away everything that he possesses, this includes his time and his knowledge—which he imparted liberally and without reservation. Douglas was always an active member of 26's most popular fraternal organization—the Radiator Club. Since Youngster year, when bridge became allowable, he has had few equals in that field. As a cross-word puzzle fan he is without a peer, he works 'em from reveille until taps and then dreams about 'em. And speaking of taps it was only classical music he really enjoyed. However, Douglas had his eccentricities. He could not be bribed, inveigled, or persuaded into attending a hop. He seems to have dreaded the thought of so many of the unfair sex gathered together at one time. Here we might hearken to the fables of the French, Cherchez la Femme. Doug wrote regularly to a redheaded girl, and if we owned a photo, like the one on his locker door, hops would hold very little attraction. Athletically, he was always one of the stalwart members of the combined sub and weak-squads. He was too much of a man to stoop to rope climbing.

In the Academics he was equally consistent; sometimes boning all of ten minutes on a subject; yet if anyone wanted to know how to work a prob, or didn't quite savvy something, they would ask Doug. He invariably knew. Everyone likes him—judge for yourself.

Football B Squad (4).

Douglas Harold Fox

Dowagiac, Michigan

"Doug" "De Haven"

THE term Big-hearted was coined to use on Doug. He gives away everything that he possesses, this includes his time and his knowledge—which he imparted liberally and without reservation. Douglas was always an active member of 26's most popular fraternal organization—the Radiator Club. Since Youngster year, when bridge became allowable, he has had few equals in that field. As a cross-word puzzle fan he is without a peer, he works 'em from reveille until taps and then dreams about 'em. And speaking of taps it was only classical music he really enjoyed. However, Douglas had his eccentricities. He could not be bribed, inveigled, or persuaded into attending a hop. He seems to have dreaded the thought of so many of the unfair sex gathered together at one time. Here we might hearken to the fables of the French, Cherchez la Femme. Doug wrote regularly to a redheaded girl, and if we owned a photo, like the one on his locker door, hops would hold very little attraction. Athletically, he was always one of the stalwart members of the combined sub and weak-squads. He was too much of a man to stoop to rope climbing.

In the Academics he was equally consistent; sometimes boning all of ten minutes on a subject; yet if anyone wanted to know how to work a prob, or didn't quite savvy something, they would ask Doug. He invariably knew. Everyone likes him—judge for yourself.

Football B Squad (4).

Loss

Douglas was lost when USS Barton (DD 599) was sunk during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on November 13, 1942. He had been in command since the ship's commissioning on May 29, 1942.

The wartime service of Barton and her officers and crew are detailed in this wonderful history.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Douglas graduated in 1922 from Dowagiac Union high school. “Doug.” Editor Wahoo, Band ’20 ’21 ’22, Football ’21. “It Pays to Advertise,” Oratory ’22, President Le Cercle Francais, Military Training ’20, “La Poudre Aux Yeux.” “I am not only witty myself, but the cause of that wit is in other men.” Photo collector. Prophecy: I have always seen Douglas Fox in a court room and many are the lives he has saved including many famous movie actors, William Yaw being the chief one of interest who escaped the hangman through the efforts of Douglas.” In “It Pays to Advertise,” Douglas played Cyrus Martin the controller of all soaps except Ivory.
Douglas was named second alternate to the Naval Academy by Congressman John C. Ketcham in April, 1922.
On December 13, 1934, in San Francisco, he married Mary Beth Varney. Their twin daughters were named Mary Beth and Margaret. Her parents were interned by the Japanese in the Philippines.
Before Douglas' family moved to Dowagiac in 1918, his father, The Reverend Joseph, was pastor of the Caro Baptist church. His mother was Lena.

His wife was listed as next of kin.

Photographs

From his high school yearbook
From The San Francisco Examiner on December 31, 1942

Navy Cross

From Hall of Valor:

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Commander Douglas Harold Fox (NSN: 0-60375), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of this profession as Commanding Officer of the Destroyer U.S.S. BARTON (DD-599), during the engagement with enemy Japanese forces north of the Santa Cruz Islands on 26 October 1942, and during arduous task of locating and rescuing survivors of damaged aircraft near French Reef, New Caledonia, on 30 October 1942. While under intense and prolonged aerial bombardment, Lieutenant Commander Fox, with superior judgment and expert seamanship, maneuvered his ship to effect the rescue of 250 survivors from the Aircraft Carrier HORNET. Four days later, under extreme darkness and adverse weather conations, he brought the Barton into the vicinity of dangerous reefs and despite imminent threat of hostile submarine attacks, picked up stranded crews and passengers from four large patrol planes, without loss of personnel. His brilliant leadership and courageous initiative were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Service: Navy
Division: U.S.S. Barton (DD-599)
General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 316 (July 1943)

From Hall of Valor:

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Commander Douglas Harold Fox (NSN: 0-60375), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the Destroyer U.S.S. BARTON (DD-599), during an engagement with Japanese naval forces near Savo Island on the night of 12 - 13 November, 1942. On this occasion the force to which Lieutenant Commander Fox was attached engaged at close quarters and defeated a superior enemy force, inflicting heavy damage upon them and preventing the accomplishment of their intended mission. This daring and intrepid attack, brilliantly executed, led to a great victory for his country's forces. By his indomitable fighting spirit, expert seamanship, and gallant devotion to duty, Lieutenant Commander Fox contributed largely to the success of the battle and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Service: Navy
Division: U.S.S. Barton (DD-599)
General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 312 (March 1943)

Namesake

USS Douglas H. Fox (DD 779) was named for Douglas.

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.