JESSE BLACKWELL, LTJG, USN

From USNA Virtual Memorial Hall
Jesse Blackwell '27

Date of birth: January 14, 1905

Date of death: September 6, 1936

Age: 31

Lucky Bag

From the 1927 Lucky Bag:

1927 Blackwell LB.jpg

Jesse Blackwell

Maysville, Georgia

"Blackie"

FRESH from sunny Georgia, Blackie first descended upon us, with a contagious smile and an aversion for the Academics, to begin his naval career. His strongest trait is the ease with which he hits the pap or turns in at Sick Bay.

Blackie is usually just a little better than sat, and there's always a distant fear prompting his boning. We sometimes hear, "Hey, Bill, what's the math?" but usually it is the familiar "How about a little session of bridge?" He has that carefree disposition of the South and an accompanying weakness for the fair sex which often, on Saturday night, finds him wearing out the deck in Dahlgren Hall.

He has an intense love for his native state and consequently is an authority on peaches and baseball in general and women in particular. We know that Blackie will always remain a true Southerner. Anyone who has been on the mid-watch around the North of Scotland with him cannot refute that. His pet ambition is a life detail in the tropics.

Despite his Georgian disposition, we prophesy that he will get along in the Navy. We sincerely hope that the time he has spent in running down logarithms and checking off math problems will earn for him a well-merited reward. We know that behind his smiling face, he is at heart serious and that he will make a good shipmate.

Baseball: Class (3); Tennis: Squad (2).

1927 Blackwell LB.jpg

Jesse Blackwell

Maysville, Georgia

"Blackie"

FRESH from sunny Georgia, Blackie first descended upon us, with a contagious smile and an aversion for the Academics, to begin his naval career. His strongest trait is the ease with which he hits the pap or turns in at Sick Bay.

Blackie is usually just a little better than sat, and there's always a distant fear prompting his boning. We sometimes hear, "Hey, Bill, what's the math?" but usually it is the familiar "How about a little session of bridge?" He has that carefree disposition of the South and an accompanying weakness for the fair sex which often, on Saturday night, finds him wearing out the deck in Dahlgren Hall.

He has an intense love for his native state and consequently is an authority on peaches and baseball in general and women in particular. We know that Blackie will always remain a true Southerner. Anyone who has been on the mid-watch around the North of Scotland with him cannot refute that. His pet ambition is a life detail in the tropics.

Despite his Georgian disposition, we prophesy that he will get along in the Navy. We sincerely hope that the time he has spent in running down logarithms and checking off math problems will earn for him a well-merited reward. We know that behind his smiling face, he is at heart serious and that he will make a good shipmate.

Baseball: Class (3); Tennis: Squad (2).

Loss

Jessie died on September 6, 1936 of tuberculosis. The Register of Alumni lists "September 6, 1936, Denver, CO" next to Jesse's name. The 1936 Navy Directory has "TRTMT FITZSIMONS GENERAL HOSP DENVER COLO".

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Jesse married Elizabeth Norwood Moore on December 28, 1929, in New Bern, North Carolina.

In 1930, he was stationed at the Naval Air Base in San Diego.

Jesse, his wife and 6-month-old son Jesse, Jr., traveled to Honolulu in June, 1932. His wife and son returned in February, 1934, and he returned in May.

When his health prevented him from making regular flights, he was assigned to the Naval Academy as an instructor. He was taken desperately ill there and was transferred to Fitzsimmons Hospital in Denver where he later died.

His father Lon was a farmer. His brothers were Maurice, Fred and Bobby. His sisters were Lillie, Sarah and Ruby.

In 1935 Navy Directory he was an instructor at the Naval Academy. He earned his wings as naval aviator #3612 on February 4, 1930.

Jesse is buried in the Naval Academy cemetery. He was survived by his parents, a sister, a brother, his wife, and his son (Jesse Blackwell, USMA '56).

Memorial Hall Error

Illness is not a criteria for inclusion in Memorial Hall.


Class of 1927

Jesse is one of 43 members of the Class of 1927 on Virtual Memorial Hall.

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