GEORGE A. WAGNER, JR., LCDR, USN

George Wagner, Jr. '36

Date of birth: November 10, 1914

Date of death: October 14, 1943

Age: 28

Lucky Bag

From the 1936 Lucky Bag:

George Andrew Wagner, Jr.

Water Valley, Mississippi

"George"

From Water Valley in the highlands (?) of Mississippi, the N.A. received George on June 14, 1932. Nature endowed him with a mind of rare brilliance and breadth and "Miss'ippi" gave him the attitude of the Southern gentleman—thus George as we know him, an attractive personality and a likeable classmate. Though on the verge of starring most of the time, George never "let school interfere with his education" too much. Fencing, golf, Reception Committee work, classes, and a Queen of Water Valley's famous Watermelon Festival have been his chief interests for four years. Gifted with the speed and precision of the natural athlete, George has proved a valuable man to the fencing team. Success must attend such ability.

Fencing 4, 3, 2, 1. fNt; Tennis 4; Golf 2, 1; N Club; Reception Committee 3, 2, 1; Christmas Card Committee 2, 1; Hop Committee 1; Lucky Bag Administration Editor; Two Stripes

George Andrew Wagner, Jr.

Water Valley, Mississippi

"George"

From Water Valley in the highlands (?) of Mississippi, the N.A. received George on June 14, 1932. Nature endowed him with a mind of rare brilliance and breadth and "Miss'ippi" gave him the attitude of the Southern gentleman—thus George as we know him, an attractive personality and a likeable classmate. Though on the verge of starring most of the time, George never "let school interfere with his education" too much. Fencing, golf, Reception Committee work, classes, and a Queen of Water Valley's famous Watermelon Festival have been his chief interests for four years. Gifted with the speed and precision of the natural athlete, George has proved a valuable man to the fencing team. Success must attend such ability.

Fencing 4, 3, 2, 1. fNt; Tennis 4; Golf 2, 1; N Club; Reception Committee 3, 2, 1; Christmas Card Committee 2, 1; Hop Committee 1; Lucky Bag Administration Editor; Two Stripes

Loss

George was lost when USS Dorado (SS 248) was sunk, possibly by a mine laid by a German submarine near the Panama Canal, on or about October 14, 1943. He was the boat's executive officer.

Other Information

Growing up, his family lived at 204 Dupuy St., Water Valley, Mississippi. In 1930 they had a 30-year-old black cook, and the woman's daughter and son, living with them.

From researcher Kathy Franz: "George’s father was in retail dry goods; his mother was Corrine, and his sisters were Gertrude and Helen."

His wife was listed as next of kin. He has a memory marker in Mississippi.

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.