LEONARD V. DUFFY, LT, USN

Leonard Duffy '29

Date of birth: September 11, 1906

Date of death: March 26, 1942

Age: 35

Lucky Bag

From the 1929 Lucky Bag:

LEONARD VINCENT DUFFY

Oak Park, Illinois

"Lem" "Haman" "Duff"

PLEBE summer was almost over when one night, far away in the Windy City, Lem felt the call. And so forthwith he came. He is like that; when he decides upon anything, he does it. Loyola University, where he had been studying for a year, was just as sorry to witness his exodus there as we were happy at his advent here. He immediately began to turn to on the piano in Smoke Hall where he would entertain nightly after chow. How that man can play!

For two years his histrionic talents were dominant, but during Second Class year he demonstrated in the Masqueraders how a detective should detect without the aid of even Watson or the needle.

He is an ideal wife, always disagreeing in anything whether it be for the sake of argument or just to be ornery, and he is never borrowing clothes. But be that as it may, he has a sparkling sense of humor, and is always ready with a pun. He has not the "Navy Line" of which we sometimes hear; he is rather humorously sincere. Although he has not decided upon his final objective in life, all who know him are assured that he will maintain his place among men.

Chairman Gymkhana. Cheer Leader 2, 1. Director Gymkhana. Editor TSB News. Jazz Band 4. Log Staff 2. Lucky Bag 2, 1. Masqueraders 2, 1. Musical 4, 3, 2, 1. N.A.C.A. 4. Pep Committee 2, 1, Secretary Treasurer. Sub-Squad 3, 2. G.P.O.

LEONARD VINCENT DUFFY

Oak Park, Illinois

"Lem" "Haman" "Duff"

PLEBE summer was almost over when one night, far away in the Windy City, Lem felt the call. And so forthwith he came. He is like that; when he decides upon anything, he does it. Loyola University, where he had been studying for a year, was just as sorry to witness his exodus there as we were happy at his advent here. He immediately began to turn to on the piano in Smoke Hall where he would entertain nightly after chow. How that man can play!

For two years his histrionic talents were dominant, but during Second Class year he demonstrated in the Masqueraders how a detective should detect without the aid of even Watson or the needle.

He is an ideal wife, always disagreeing in anything whether it be for the sake of argument or just to be ornery, and he is never borrowing clothes. But be that as it may, he has a sparkling sense of humor, and is always ready with a pun. He has not the "Navy Line" of which we sometimes hear; he is rather humorously sincere. Although he has not decided upon his final objective in life, all who know him are assured that he will maintain his place among men.

Chairman Gymkhana. Cheer Leader 2, 1. Director Gymkhana. Editor TSB News. Jazz Band 4. Log Staff 2. Lucky Bag 2, 1. Masqueraders 2, 1. Musical 4, 3, 2, 1. N.A.C.A. 4. Pep Committee 2, 1, Secretary Treasurer. Sub-Squad 3, 2. G.P.O.

Loss

Leonard was lost when USS Atik (AK 101) was sunk by a German submarine 300 miles east of Norfolk, Virginia on March 26, 1942. None of her crew survived the sinking and a large explosion as the ship sank.

The Naval History and Heritage Command has details of the Q-ship program (where merchant ships were outfitted with hidden guns) and of Atik's brief history.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Leonard graduated in 1924 from St. Ignasius High School in Chicago. Duff’s ability to entertain a crowd by means of his facility at tickling the ivories gives him a prominent place on our list of merry-makers. Leonard was always the central figure of the belated smoking room crowd. He has garnered first honors without a break for four years. In track, he ran the 100 and 220 yard dashes. Class Prophecy: In the Café Americanique in Paris . . . at an ivory grand piano was Len Duffy, pounding away at the keys. In October, 1942, Leonard among others was honored representing St. Ignatius High School in Chicago at its fall festival and reunion.
In June 1933, he was assigned to 697th Co Civilian Conservation Corps 22nd., Jd District and assigned to CCC Camp F-35, Upper Cispus. In December 1933, he was released from 1231 Co., Camp #F-4, Upper West Side Highway [Iona Island, New York] and departed with CCC Cadre for Camp Dix, New Jersey.
In February and March 1934, he was executive officer of Company 1244, CCC Tompkins Corners, New York. In April 1934, a roster of Camp Dix, New Jersey, reported he was Jd and attached temporary duty w/CCC from Co. 1231, Bear Mountain, New York.
Leonard married Ethelyn Eleanor Brown on July 14, 1933, in San Francisco. They later divorced. They had one daughter, Nancy Ann.
His father was Charles, a postal carrier, and his mother was Annie (McCarville.) His brothers were Charles and Emmett, and his sister was Helen.

His daughter was listed as next of kin.

Leonard had previously commanded (until before June 4, 1940) USS Napa (AT 32) in the Philippines.

Photographs

From his high school yearbook
From his high school yearbook
From his high school yearbook

Navy Directories & Officer Registers

The "Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps" was published annually from 1815 through at least the 1970s; it provided rank, command or station, and occasionally billet until the beginning of World War II when command/station was no longer included. Scanned copies were reviewed and data entered from the mid-1840s through 1922, when more-frequent Navy Directories were available.