EDWARD H. MORGAN, LT, USN
Edward Morgan '45
Lucky Bag
From the 1945 Lucky Bag:
Edward Hamilton Morgan
Pasadena, California
Although the Severn could not furnish the smooth beaches and the pounding surf of his beloved California, "Morg's" love of the water made him choose crew for a sport. Because he was earnest in it, as in all things, and a leader the team made him its captain. Girls were attracted to him and Ham (that's what his Dad calls him) never seemed to be able to get them to leave. Always a humorist, Ed was at his best those first few minutes after reveille. "Death" (short for Death Valley), somehow unable to separate himself voluntarily from his sack that early in the morning, started each day off merrily. The Naval Academy has lost a most ardent supporter. Bon voyage, Ed. See you again, soon.
Crew 4, 3, 1, "N", Captain
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.
Edward Hamilton Morgan
Pasadena, California
Although the Severn could not furnish the smooth beaches and the pounding surf of his beloved California, "Morg's" love of the water made him choose crew for a sport. Because he was earnest in it, as in all things, and a leader the team made him its captain. Girls were attracted to him and Ham (that's what his Dad calls him) never seemed to be able to get them to leave. Always a humorist, Ed was at his best those first few minutes after reveille. "Death" (short for Death Valley), somehow unable to separate himself voluntarily from his sack that early in the morning, started each day off merrily. The Naval Academy has lost a most ardent supporter. Bon voyage, Ed. See you again, soon.
Crew 4, 3, 1, "N", Captain
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
Edward was lost on June 11, 1954 when he died in a plane crash near El Paso, Texas.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
John’s parents died when he was young, and he was raised by his sister Cumi and her husband Chester Acree.
John graduated from Gulf Coast Military Academy and attended Marion Military Institute for one year. He was appointed to the Naval Academy by Representative Joe Starnes.
In February 1946, John left for New York City to join the Atlantic fleet.
In January 1947, John was at the U. S. Aviation Center in Dallas taking a course. In April, John reported to Corpus Christi for flight training and then was sent to Pensacola. He received his wings on May 27, 1948. Chester Acree visited him in San Diego where he was stationed for about two months. In February 1954, John was stationed in Jacksonville. His last visit to see Chester was in June, 1955.
John was survived by his wife Margaret Hanger Horn, their daughter Bonnie Ann, two brothers Felix and Dr. J. R., and one sister Mrs. Cecil Mahone. John was a native of Crenshaw County. His parents were Dr. Joseph Robert Horn who died in 1923, and Florence who died in 1929.
From the Ridgewood Herald News on June 17, 1954:
Lt, Edward Hamilton Morgan, U.S.N., husband of the former Anne Hazlewood of Ho-Ho-Kus, died on Saturday, June 12, in the crash of his F9-F6 Panther jet while taking off from El Paso, Texas, after refueling. Lt. Morgan was enroute from Atlantic City, to El Toro, California. He was taking off from El Paso following Lt. Commander D. D. Engen, pilot of the second jet. Both were members of VX-3, Naval Experimental Squadron.
Witnesses report that his plane did not attain proper altitude and hit a power line after crossing a highway into the airport.
The plane a group homes about 1,000 yards away and then suddenly banked over and away from them. It was apparent that Lt. Morgan deliberately banked to keep from hitting the houses and crashed into an alley within 30 yards of nearest house.
Lt. Morgan, the son of V.K. Morgan of Pasadena, Cal., and the late Mrs. Morgan, was born August 5, 1921. He attended Pasadena City College at Pasadena, Cal., and Meade School, San Marino, Cal., before attending the Naval Academy at Annapolis where he received his commission in the spring of 1944.
He saw action in the Pacific during World War II on the USS Laws with Task Forces 38 and 58. He was assigned in October 1948 to the destroyer USS Hollister. During the Korean War he was assigned to the aircraft carriers Princeton and Boxer.
Surviving are his wife, Anne Hazlewood Morgan, and his sons, Ledyard and Bruce Morgan. Mrs. Morgan is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T.T. Hazlewood of Snow Drive, Mahwah.
Mrs. Morgan's brother, Captain Ledyard Hazlewood, well-known Ridgewood High School graduate, met his death as fighter pilot in a plane crash in the Solomons, in 1943.
His engagement to Anne Hazelwood ('46, Vassar College) was announced in June 1946.
He is buried in Alabama.
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Robert Mack '45 was also in 5th Company.
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