HENRY B. RATHBONE, LTJG, USN
Henry Rathbone '47
Lucky Bag
From the 1947 Lucky Bag:
Henry Brownell Rathbone
Providence, Rhode Island
We are convinced that the combination of Rhode Island and Harvard can turn out a rather ultra product. When it comes to excelling, Hank is way ahead, be it at academics, dragging, or bridge. But his specialty is baseball, about which he is ready to converse long and hard at any time. Almost any happy hour you can find him mauling over the sporting news or defiantly defending his favorite team, even though it usually ends up in the lower brackets. Hank's various talents have won him a great popularity, his sincerity and frankness have won him the everlasting friendship of those who are his classmates.
He was a member of the soccer team.
The Class of 1947 was graduated in June 1946 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
Henry Brownell Rathbone
Providence, Rhode Island
We are convinced that the combination of Rhode Island and Harvard can turn out a rather ultra product. When it comes to excelling, Hank is way ahead, be it at academics, dragging, or bridge. But his specialty is baseball, about which he is ready to converse long and hard at any time. Almost any happy hour you can find him mauling over the sporting news or defiantly defending his favorite team, even though it usually ends up in the lower brackets. Hank's various talents have won him a great popularity, his sincerity and frankness have won him the everlasting friendship of those who are his classmates.
He was a member of the soccer team.
The Class of 1947 was graduated in June 1946 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
Loss
Henry crashed on takeoff due to partial power failure of his F4U-4 Corsair fighter from USS Boxer (CV 21) on August 4, 1951. He was departing on a combat mission near Korea at the time.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Henry graduated from Moses Brown School in 1943. He was a member of the Chapter of Cum Laude. The year before, Henry was president of the Fourth Form. Student Activities Committee, Dance Committee, Athletic Association, Baseball, Soccer, Track, Proscenium Club (dramatics.)
His father Clifford was a building contractor and later an architectural engineer for a home mortgage company; mother Dorothea, and sister Dorlinda. In 1935, they lived in Bristol, Massachusetts.
He has a memory marker in Rhode Island.
Photographs
From his high school yearbook
Related Articles
Joseph Melesky ’47 and Roy Anderson ’47 were also members of the soccer team.
Memorial Hall Error?
Henry is listed on the killed in action panel in the front of Memorial Hall. While not an obvious error, inclusion on the panel for crashes like this (incidental to combat flights) has been inconsistent across WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
