GROVER B. WINDHAM, JR., CDR, USN
Grover Windham, Jr. '43
Lucky Bag
From the 1943 Lucky Bag:
GROVER "B" WINDHAM, JR.
Fairfield, Alabama
Windy reminded us of those tall, congenial southerners that we used to read about. Always cheerful, with never a harsh word, Windy was always the right fellow for a bull session. His bits of wisdom at such gatherings went more or less unheeded, but the spirit was willing. Nothing fazed him; adversities came as just one of those things that have to happen—a necessary evil—and that was all there was to it. This his imagination, judgment, and even disposition, he will be a welcome addition to any wardroom.
He was a member of the Lucky Bag staff and a member of the lacrosse team.
The Class of 1943 was graduated in June 1942 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
GROVER "B" WINDHAM, JR.
Fairfield, Alabama
Windy reminded us of those tall, congenial southerners that we used to read about. Always cheerful, with never a harsh word, Windy was always the right fellow for a bull session. His bits of wisdom at such gatherings went more or less unheeded, but the spirit was willing. Nothing fazed him; adversities came as just one of those things that have to happen—a necessary evil—and that was all there was to it. This his imagination, judgment, and even disposition, he will be a welcome addition to any wardroom.
He was a member of the Lucky Bag staff and a member of the lacrosse team.
The Class of 1943 was graduated in June 1942 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
Loss
Grover was in command of a P2V-3W Neptune that crashed while on a "Hurricane Hunter" patrol on September 26, 1955. More details about the loss are in this article at Weatherwise.
Other Information
From the Class of 1943 anniversary book "25 years later…":
Windy was born on 6 January 1921 at Fairfield, Alabama. He was appointed from Alabama and entered the Academy on 28 July 1939. Upon graduation he re ported to the cruiser USS PORTLAND which participated in the initial landing in the Solomon Islands, the Battle of Eastern Solomons, Santa Cruz, Savo Island, Kiska Invasion, Marshall and Gilbert Island Invasions. In 1945, Windy put the cruiser USS BREMERTON on commission and spent 1946 in the Far East. Flight Training followed in 1948 followed by duty with Patrol Squadron Five. Duty in Advanced Training Command and Carrier Division Four followed. Windy then performed flying duties in Early Air Warning Squadron Four.
It was during this duty that he lost his life in a plane crash in the Caribbean Sea during Hurricane Janet on 26 September 1955. Windy wore the Navy Unit Citation Ribbon, the American Defense Service Medal with Fleet Clasp, American Area Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Area Medal with nine Bronze Stars, WWII Victory Medal, Occupation Medal (Asia), China Service Medal, the Philippine Independence Medal and the Korean Defense Medal. He is survived by his wife, Nancy McAdams and their children, Nancy Elizabeth and John Franklin. Nancy is now wife of John Haynie, Windy's classmate.
From Find A Grave:
Grover B. Windham graduated from the US Naval Academy with the class of 1943. Due to WWII, the class graduated a full year early, in June, 1942. His home of record at the time was Fairfield, Alabama.
He served throughout WWII and eventually went into Naval Aviation. In 1955, he was part of the group known as "Hurricane Hunters" and in command of the 9 man crew of the plane known as "Snowcloud Five". On 26 September of that year, the plane was lost, while tracking Category Five Hurricane Janet. LCDR Windham had been based at Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida. He was survived by a wife and two children.
From researcher Kathy Franz:
In May 1937, Grover won the Fairfield High School oratorical contest. He also appeared over WSGN in the Poppy Day program. In May 1939, he read the poem “The Unknown Soldier” as part of the Poppy Day program. After high school, he attended the Marion Institute for one year.
His father, a veteran Fairfield councilman, had died the previous June. Grover was also survived by his mother and sister, Mrs. Charles K. Giddens.
Photographs
From his high school yearbook
"In August 1949, his wife, the former Nancy McAdams, pins his wings on in Corpus Christi." From The Birmingham News on August 14, 1949
From The Birmingham News on September 27, 1955
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
