JOHN C. ADAMS, JR., LTJG, USN

From USNA Virtual Memorial Hall
John Adams, Jr. '44

Date of birth: August 23, 1920

Date of death: March 20, 1945

Age: 24

Lucky Bag

From the 1944 Lucky Bag:

1944 Adams LB.jpg

John Clausel Adams, Jr.

Mobile, Alabama

That striking flash of determination in his gray eyes is what one first spots in Jay. He's an Alabama rebel, but lacks that "deep" accent, which he lost somewhere in his wanderings as a Navy junior. A gifted story teller, he was always the center of good company. Though adapted to lacrosse and football, Jay was fascinated by the gym, especially liked rope-climbing. If we're not shipmates with him again, we'll remember his geniality, his ability to stick by his guns, and that flare for grasping the details of the how and the why of things, which will carry him far in our Navy.


The Class of 1944 was graduated in June 1943 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.

1944 Adams LB.jpg

John Clausel Adams, Jr.

Mobile, Alabama

That striking flash of determination in his gray eyes is what one first spots in Jay. He's an Alabama rebel, but lacks that "deep" accent, which he lost somewhere in his wanderings as a Navy junior. A gifted story teller, he was always the center of good company. Though adapted to lacrosse and football, Jay was fascinated by the gym, especially liked rope-climbing. If we're not shipmates with him again, we'll remember his geniality, his ability to stick by his guns, and that flare for grasping the details of the how and the why of things, which will carry him far in our Navy.


The Class of 1944 was graduated in June 1943 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.

Loss

John was lost when USS Kete (SS 369) was sunk by an unknown cause, sometime around March 20, 1945, near the Ryukyu Islands.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

John's father was a Navy doctor who began his service in April 1917. He received the Legion of Merit in April 1946. John’s step mother was Lucine, brother Robert, grandmother Coraly. In 1940, they lived in Washington, D. C.; and in 1935, they lived in Pensacola. In 1930, they lived in Coronado, and his mother was Helen.

He was survived by his wife, Mrs. Barbara Griffith Adams.

Related Articles

John Windheim, Jr. '44 and Raymond Strassle '44 were also on the lacrosse team.


Class of 1944

John is one of 66 members of the Class of 1944 on Virtual Memorial Hall.

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