JOHN A. LUSBY, LTJG, USN
John Lusby '45
Lucky Bag
From the 1945 Lucky Bag:
John Amos Lusby
Casper, Wyoming
Pardner, this feller's from Casper, Wyomin', where the only law's the six gun. Since regulations forbid fire arms, this feller's turned to the slide rule for his wicked work. The Academy's never seen anyone quicker on the draw. The halls look like slaughterhouses as Jack gallantly marches out with blood dripping from his slide rule. After each sanguinary session he's always heard moaning. "Did I bilge!" Being a star-man occupies little time. In the afternoons he's busy with cross country, wrestling, boxing, sailing, or playing his violin. Never says much about his love life, but you can bet that gleam didn't get in his eyes by chance. What a feller!
Battalion Boxing 4; Battalion Cross Country 3; Orchestra 4, 3; Spanish Club 4, 3; Stars 3.
The Class of 1945 was graduated in June 1944 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
John Amos Lusby
Casper, Wyoming
Pardner, this feller's from Casper, Wyomin', where the only law's the six gun. Since regulations forbid fire arms, this feller's turned to the slide rule for his wicked work. The Academy's never seen anyone quicker on the draw. The halls look like slaughterhouses as Jack gallantly marches out with blood dripping from his slide rule. After each sanguinary session he's always heard moaning. "Did I bilge!" Being a star-man occupies little time. In the afternoons he's busy with cross country, wrestling, boxing, sailing, or playing his violin. Never says much about his love life, but you can bet that gleam didn't get in his eyes by chance. What a feller!
Battalion Boxing 4; Battalion Cross Country 3; Orchestra 4, 3; Spanish Club 4, 3; Stars 3.
The Class of 1945 was graduated in June 1944 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
Loss
John lost on May 29, 1950 when the "twin-engine Navy transport plane" he was aboard, which was "assigned to Sandia Special Weapons Base, Albuquerque, N. M., crashed in Louisiana." He was the copilot; the pilot and crew chief were also killed. They were en route to Barksdale Air Force Base from Atlanta, Georgia.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
John graduated in 1939 from Natrona County High School. He then attended the University of Wyoming majoring in engineering. He was nominated first alternate to the Naval Academy by Senator O’Mahoney.
In July 1944, he completed training in Jacksonville, and in April 1945, John was based in Charleston, South Carolina. In December 1948, he was a flyer stationed at Norfolk.
From the Casper Star Tribune on May 31, 1950:
Lieut. Lusby was a native of Casper and had lived here all his life until he was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1941. His mother was a member of a prominent pioneer family in this section of the State.
He attended grade schools in Casper and graduated from NCHS with the class of 1938. He attended the University of Wyoming for two years prior to his appointment at Annapolis from which he was graduated May 29, 1944.
During his high school days he was prominent on the campus. He was a member of the National Honorary society, exclusive to high grade average students, he was a member of the Spanish club and Euclid club, a member of Boy Scout troop 8 and played the violin in the high school orchestra.
SERVED IN WAR
He was also very active in the Boy Scouts. At the close of the May 3, 1939 Jamboree he was made an Eagle Scout, one of the highest awards in Scoutdom.During his high school days he served as a carrier for the Casper Tribune-Herald for three years and had an enviable reputation for faithfulness and promptness.
Lieut. Lusby served as deck officer on the light cruiser Reno in the Pacific during World War II and at the close of the war took flight training and became a Navy pilot.
In addition to his parents he is survived by two brothers and a sister, Gregg of Worland, Robert, who is graduating from the University of Wyoming this year, and Betty, who is employed by the Socony-Vacuum here.
He is buried in Wyoming, near his parents and brother, Bob.
Photographs
From his high school yearbook
From a yearbook of the University of Wyoming
Related Articles
The pilot of the transport was Frederick Putnam '43.
Donald Hall '45, Charles McBride '45, John Beahan '45, and Joseph Bolger, Jr. '45 were also in 14th Company.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
