MILTON L. HARVEY, LT, USN
Milton Harvey '43
Lucky Bag
From the 1943 Lucky Bag:
MILTON LOUIS HARVEY
Brooklyn, New York
"Mike" came to the Naval Academy from Brooklyn and he hasn't lived it down yet. Like most men from harbor cities, he knew little of ships or the sea. He recognized the possibilities of sail early Plebe year and made many of those delightful overnight trips on the ketches. During the long winter months, Mike could usually be found in the gym absorbing practical instruction in the boxing ring. Spring and fall found him piloting a dinghy for the Sailing Team and sailing in most of the small boat races. On Saturday evenings, it was Dahlgren Hall for sure. The Brooklyn Kid has become the Navy Kid a true sailor.
The Class of 1943 was graduated in June 1942 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
MILTON LOUIS HARVEY
Brooklyn, New York
"Mike" came to the Naval Academy from Brooklyn and he hasn't lived it down yet. Like most men from harbor cities, he knew little of ships or the sea. He recognized the possibilities of sail early Plebe year and made many of those delightful overnight trips on the ketches. During the long winter months, Mike could usually be found in the gym absorbing practical instruction in the boxing ring. Spring and fall found him piloting a dinghy for the Sailing Team and sailing in most of the small boat races. On Saturday evenings, it was Dahlgren Hall for sure. The Brooklyn Kid has become the Navy Kid a true sailor.
The Class of 1943 was graduated in June 1942 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
Loss
Milton was lost on March 3, 1946 when the American Airlines DC-3 he was aboard crashed 60 miles east of San Diego, California. It appears he was on official travel to his new duty station aboard USS Norton Sound (AV 11). (That ship would depart Tokyo Bay on April 7, 1946 for Norfolk.)
Other Information
From the Class of 1943 anniversary book "25 years later…":
Mike was born in Highland Park, New Jersey on 22 March 1920. He was appointed from New York and entered the Naval Academy on 22 June 1939. After graduation he reported to the destroyer USS McCalla (DD 488). In March 1944 he commenced his flight training which was conducted at Dallas, Texas, Pensacola, Florida, and Jacksonville, Florida in patrol type aircraft.
In November 1945 he was ordered to duty as Navigator of the seaplane tender USS NORTON SOUND. It was on this duty that Mike lost his life on 3 March 1946, 45 miles east of San Diego when the American Airlines plane in which he was riding crashed.
His medals include: American Defense Service with fleet clasp, American Area Campaign, Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign with four bronze stars, and the WWII Victory Medal.
He was survived by his mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Alexander Harvey who at the time of Mike's death lived at 1202 East 9th Street, Brooklyn, New York.
From the Oakland Tribune on March 4, 1946:
Another of those listed as dead in the crash is Navy Lieut. Milton L. Harvey of Brooklyn, who boarded the plane at New York.
Mrs. Pauline Harvey, 1127 Fifth Avenue, fears that he may be her brother-in-law who is a Navy lieutenant and bears the same name.
He lived at 1202 East Ninth Street, Brooklyn, N.Y, is 30 years of age and an Annapolis graduate.
The Oakland woman said her husband, Navy Lieut. Robert L. Harvey, now en route to China aboard a destroyer-escort, wrote advising her his brother had been assigned to the West Coast and would be coming here soon.
He is buried in New York; his headstone reads in part "died in service to our country" and "beloved son and dear brother".
Career
On May 1, 1943 he was promoted to the temporary rank of Lieutenant (j.g.).
He was promoted to the temporary rank of Lieutenant on July 1, 1944. He was designated as a naval aviator (heavier than air) according to the Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps of 1945.
Memorial Hall Error
Milton is not listed with his classmates or on the killed in action panel in Memorial Hall. This omission was discovered via a listing of alumni killed in the war years published in the September 1946 edition of Shipmate.
Norman is one of 85 members of the Class of 1943 on Virtual Memorial Hall.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
