FLOYD CUMMINGS, MAJ, USMC
Floyd Cummings '41
Lucky Bag
From the 1941 Lucky Bag:
FLOYD CUMMINGS
Cleveland, Mississippi
Willie's high school days were filled with football and debating, not to mention cotton farming on the side. But in spite of being born and reared on a cotton farm, curiosity plus that old call of the sea, led Willie eastward. After graduating from a junior college, where he continued his football and debating—but not his cotton farming—Willie entered the Naval Academy.
As a plebe, Willie decided to try his hand at crew, which limited his football to playing on the battalion team (which, incidentally, won the regimental championship that year). Academics interfered a little with crew youngster year, but second class year also found Willie on the Christmas Card Committee, which selects the regimental Christmas card.
It didn't lake Willie long to catch on to the system and second class summer saw him in command of a company. Always loud in his praises of the South and particularly of the Magnolia State, Willie is a firm believer in the Southern way of life.
Battalion Football 4, 2; Crew 4, 2, 1; Christmas Card Committee 2, 1; Company Pistol 3.
The Class of 1941 was the first of the wartime-accelerated classes, graduating in February 1941.
FLOYD CUMMINGS
Cleveland, Mississippi
Willie's high school days were filled with football and debating, not to mention cotton farming on the side. But in spite of being born and reared on a cotton farm, curiosity plus that old call of the sea, led Willie eastward. After graduating from a junior college, where he continued his football and debating—but not his cotton farming—Willie entered the Naval Academy.
As a plebe, Willie decided to try his hand at crew, which limited his football to playing on the battalion team (which, incidentally, won the regimental championship that year). Academics interfered a little with crew youngster year, but second class year also found Willie on the Christmas Card Committee, which selects the regimental Christmas card.
It didn't lake Willie long to catch on to the system and second class summer saw him in command of a company. Always loud in his praises of the South and particularly of the Magnolia State, Willie is a firm believer in the Southern way of life.
Battalion Football 4, 2; Crew 4, 2, 1; Christmas Card Committee 2, 1; Company Pistol 3.
The Class of 1941 was the first of the wartime-accelerated classes, graduating in February 1941.
Loss
Floyd was lost on April 13, 1946 when he was "fatally injured in an airplane accident at Quantico, Virginia." He was a member of Aircraft Engineering Squadron (AES) 12.
Other Information
Prior to the Naval Academy he attended "Linn Consolidated School near Doddsville and Sunflower Junior College at Moorhead." (From The Delta Democrat Times on April 17, 1946.)
From researcher Kathy Franz:
At Sunflower/Moorehead, Floyd’s 1937 yearbook quote was: “Ambition rules my brain and love my heart. An outstanding student and football player.” Wilson Society, Y. M. C. A., Literary Contestant ’36, ’37, Debate ’36, Football ’35, ’36, Track ’36, ’37, Oration ’36, ’37. In March 1937, Floyd won “Original Oration” for the Wilson Society's intra-society meet with the Lee Literary Society.
He is buried in Mississippi and was survived by his wife, Margaret Knewbuhl Cummings, his daughter, Sandra Lee Cummings, his parents, and his sister.
Wartime Service
Floyd was the commanding officer of Marine Scout Bombing Squadron (VMSB) 133 from March 9, 1945 through the end of the war.
From Facebook:
Stationed at Mangaldan airfield the squadron bombed and strafed enemy supplies and troops in the Clark Field vicinity and other targets of opportunity. April 21 the squadron moved to Malabang, Mindanao, under the command of Maj. Floyd Cummings.
It was during this time that VMSB-133 earned praise from local guerilla forces citing their remarkable accuracy in bombing and strafing during very close air-supported operations. During June and July the squadron continued to harass the Japanese by almost ceaseless bombing and strafing missions in preparation for a landing in Sarangani Bay area
In the middle of July, VMSB-133 received the order for decommissioning of the unit on August 1, 1945.
Earlier, he "served with the 'Devil Dog Squadron' in the Pacific Theater and held that Air Medal and two Distinguished Flying Crosses for gallantry in action." This squadron appears to be Marine Fighter Squadron (VMF) 111.
Photographs
All photographs from Sunflower/Moorehead yearbook
Silver Star
From Hall of Valor:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Major Floyd Cummings (MCSN: 0-7181), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of Marine Scout Bombing Squadron ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-THREE (VMSB-133), Marine Aircraft Group TWENTY-FOUR in action against enemy Japanese forces over Nichols Field, Luzon, Philippine Islands on 12 February 1945. Withdrawing from an air attack over Manila when he received an emergency call form ground forces pinned down by enemy fire from a hangar on Nichols Field, Major Cummings led his fight in determined low level bombing runs despite intense antiaircraft fire to destroy the enemy stronghold, thereby enabling the troops to advance and reach the objective. In addition, he contributed to the success of the squadron through his work as Air Coordinator. His leadership, initiative and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: Commander 7th Fleet: Serial 05718
Action Date: February 12, 1945
Service: Marine Corps
Rank: Major
Battalion: Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 133 (VMSB-133)
Regiment: Marine Aircraft Group 24
Distinguished Flying Cross
From Hall of Valor:
(Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Floyd Cummings (MCSN: 0-7181), United States Marine Corps, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Pacific War Area during World War II.
General Orders: Heroes U.S. Marine Corps 1861 - 1955 (Jane Blakeney)
Action Date: World War II
Service: Marine Corps
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.
April 1941
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
