HENRY I. ALLEN, JR., LTJG, USN
Henry Allen, Jr. '32
Lucky Bag
From the 1932 Lucky Bag:
HARRY IRWIN ALLEN, JR.
Evanston, Illinois
"Harry" "H. I." "Bag" "Al"
On the summer of 1928 our Al came out of the West to join the Navy. Although he came from the land of farmers and gunmen, he was one of the few that knew the ways and customs of this new life. With his good humor and easy-going manner, he soon made a host of friends.
As for academics, they were mere trifles. He was not a savoir and had his troubles, but they soon disappeared when he decided to go to work. His favorite pastime was to go "unsat" in the fall and then do work of first-section calibre to get his Christmas leave. In the languages he was more than good. Dago was simple. And how often he has awed his friends with the "rhetorical bombast"!
Football was his sport and when not in the "Pull Sat Before Christmas" Club he was out with the "B" squad giving and receiving legal murder. His success in another line was a little short of phenomenal. The collection of feminine pulchritude displayed on his locker door was enough to please even the most critical.
Football; Plebe Class; B Squad; Plebe Fencing; Crew; Lucky Bag Staff; 2 P.O.
It seems that Harry's real name was "Henry;" this is what is in Memorial Hall, the US Naval Academy Register, and Navy Directories.
HARRY IRWIN ALLEN, JR.
Evanston, Illinois
"Harry" "H. I." "Bag" "Al"
On the summer of 1928 our Al came out of the West to join the Navy. Although he came from the land of farmers and gunmen, he was one of the few that knew the ways and customs of this new life. With his good humor and easy-going manner, he soon made a host of friends.
As for academics, they were mere trifles. He was not a savoir and had his troubles, but they soon disappeared when he decided to go to work. His favorite pastime was to go "unsat" in the fall and then do work of first-section calibre to get his Christmas leave. In the languages he was more than good. Dago was simple. And how often he has awed his friends with the "rhetorical bombast"!
Football was his sport and when not in the "Pull Sat Before Christmas" Club he was out with the "B" squad giving and receiving legal murder. His success in another line was a little short of phenomenal. The collection of feminine pulchritude displayed on his locker door was enough to please even the most critical.
Football; Plebe Class; B Squad; Plebe Fencing; Crew; Lucky Bag Staff; 2 P.O.
It seems that Harry's real name was "Henry;" this is what is in Memorial Hall, the US Naval Academy Register, and Navy Directories.
Loss
From the Statesman Journal (Salem, Oregon):
Death of Officer Held Accidental
SEATTLE, May 21 - Civil and naval authorities concluded today after a two-day investigation that Lieut. Henry I. Allen, commander of the navy's eagle boat 38, died early Sunday in an unexplained fall on his way to the waterfront. Officers at first believed he was a hit-and-run victim, but Deputy Coroner Stanley Morgan said tonight the evidence pointed to a fall. The body was found sprawled below a staircase. Lieut. Allen's vessel, stationed at Portland, has been in the navy yard at Bremerton for repairs.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
His father was a lawyer in Evanston; mother Edna, and sister Jane. He was survived by his wife Lucile, and daughters Stephanie, age 5, and Nancy, age 1. They lived in Portland with him. He was buried in Los Angeles
Career
Harry began his career aboard USS Nevada (BB 36). In the 1934 and 1935 Navy Directories he is still listed aboard Nevada but as a member of Observation Squadron (VO) 2B.
The 1936 and 1937 Navy Directories list him aboard USS MacLeish (DD 220) as a LTjg; the 1937 edition also includes "gun" (possibly gunnery officer).
The 1938 Navy Directory lists him aboard USS Utah (AG 16).
The 1939 Navy Directory lists him, still as a LTjg, as "cmdg USS Eagle 38." This was the 38th Eagle-class patrol craft; it was commissioned in 1919 and one of eight of the class to see service in WWII. At the time Harry was commanding officer, her hull number was PE-38.
Memorial Hall Error
Henry's loss was not an operational one.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
