MONTROSE G. MCCORMICK, LCDR, USN

Montrose McCormick '39

Date of birth: May 20, 1918

Date of death: April 19, 1945

Age: 26

Lucky Bag

From the 1939 Lucky Bag:

MONTROSE GRAHAM McCORMICK

San Diego, California

Mac, Mongoose, Monty

In spite of many likeable qualities, Monty has been notoriously unsuccessful as a hitch-hiker, but no doubt from this lack of success comes his never-say-die spirit. Cheerful and persevering, he has many accomplishments to his credit in extra-curricular activities. However, it's easy to tell his favorite activity on a happy week-end. His sincere and tireless efforts toward getting the most out of life (Goethe was apparently influenced by McCormick in forming his philosophy) are only enhanced by his enthusiasm for the companionship of a charming girl. In the trouble and turmoil of this world, Mongoose can always be counted on to see the brighter side. We hope he will always be around to cheer us up.

Reef Points 3, 2, 1; Assistant Editor 1; Log 4, 3, 2, 1; New Editor 1; N.A.C.A. Council, Vice-President 1; Stage Gang 2, 1; Property Manager 1; Press Detail 2, 1; Christmas Card Committee 2, 1; Glee Club 2, 1; Musical Club Show 2, 1; Quarterdeck 4, 3, 2, 1; Naval Orders Prize 4; 2 Stripes.

MONTROSE GRAHAM McCORMICK

San Diego, California

Mac, Mongoose, Monty

In spite of many likeable qualities, Monty has been notoriously unsuccessful as a hitch-hiker, but no doubt from this lack of success comes his never-say-die spirit. Cheerful and persevering, he has many accomplishments to his credit in extra-curricular activities. However, it's easy to tell his favorite activity on a happy week-end. His sincere and tireless efforts toward getting the most out of life (Goethe was apparently influenced by McCormick in forming his philosophy) are only enhanced by his enthusiasm for the companionship of a charming girl. In the trouble and turmoil of this world, Mongoose can always be counted on to see the brighter side. We hope he will always be around to cheer us up.

Reef Points 3, 2, 1; Assistant Editor 1; Log 4, 3, 2, 1; New Editor 1; N.A.C.A. Council, Vice-President 1; Stage Gang 2, 1; Property Manager 1; Press Detail 2, 1; Christmas Card Committee 2, 1; Glee Club 2, 1; Musical Club Show 2, 1; Quarterdeck 4, 3, 2, 1; Naval Orders Prize 4; 2 Stripes.

Loss

Montrose was lost on April 19, 1945 when the Navy transport aircraft he was aboard crashed near Perth, Australia, where he was to become the commanding officer of USS Pintado (SS 387). The other twelve passengers and crew aboard, including three American Red Cross women and a Royal Navy officer, were also killed.

Other Information

From Find A Grave:

Montrose Graham was the son of U.S. Navy Lieutenant Ivan Montrose Graham and Lillian Addison (Sprigg) Graham. Ivan fathered Montrose, but died of Influenza on 21 September 1918 in Quebec, Canada, while on duty in World War I, without ever having the opportunity to see his son.
Ivan's best friend at the Naval Academy was Lynde Dupuy McCormick, also in the class of 1915. Lynde McCormick married Ivan's widow, Lillian Graham, on 2 October 1920, and adopted Ivan's son and renamed him Montrose Graham McCormick.
Montrose Graham McCormick graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in the Class of 1939.
He was killed in a non-hostile action airplane crash near Perth, Australia, on 19 April 1945. He was enroute to a new assignment as Commanding Officer of USS Pintado (SS-387), a Balao-class submarine.
McCormick was the recipient of two Silver Star Medals; one was for actions in 1943 and the second was for actions aboard the submarine USS Cobia (USS-245) during 26 June-14 August 1944.
His remains were not recovered. A cenotaph in his memory is located in Annapolis, MD, at the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery in Section 03 - Lot 0321 B.

His wife was listed as next of kin.

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Montrose graduated from San Diego Army and Navy Academy. In 1935, his father was on duty at the academy as aide to Rear Admiral Thomas C. Hart. His two brothers were Jett and Lynde.
After graduating the Naval Academy, Montrose was on sea duty on the battleship California 1939-40, then on Lansdale on North Atlantic patrol 1940-42 when he entered submarine service. He skippered Haddock and Cobia.
He had been on 10 successful submarine patrols and had cruised in waters adjacent to the Japan home islands much of the time the past two years. He also wore the Pre-Pearl Harbor, Atlantic Theater and Asiatic Pacific campaign ribbons and the Submarine Combat ribbon with four stars.
He married Margaret Elizabeth Bennett on October 16, 1943, at All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Pasadena where her parents were married 30 years earlier. His uncle Rodney Searle Sprigg was his best man. Other groomsmen were Lt (j.g.) H. W. Park, Ensigns R. J. Bailey, W. M. Christensen, Jr., C. P. Ketler and P. E. Pooley, and his brother-in-law Lt. Comdr. Robert E. Bennett.
Sadly, like his own father, Montrose died having never seen his 5-month-old son Montrose.

Photographs

From the Lucky Bag
USS Cobia (SS-245) Battle Flag Officers of the submarine Cobia on deck during WWII. The flag shows the insignia of the ship at center, with flags and stripes indicating sunk Japanese transports and warships. Left to Right: Top Row: Lt. Cdr. Joseph J. Sibley, USNR; Lt. (JG) William S.C. Henry, USNR; Lt. (JG) Lester Davis, USN; Lt. Cdr. Montrose G. McCormick, USN; Cdr. Albert L. Becker, USN; Lieut. James P. Marion, USN; Lt. (JG) Daniel C. Pelton, USNR. Kneeling: Lt. (JG) Sidney E. Henderson, USNR; Lieut. John M. Tufts, USNR
From Pasadena Star News and Pasadena Post on April 29, 1945

Silver Star

From Hall of Valor:

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Montrose Graham McCormick (NSN: 0-82326), United States Navy, for gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy in the line of his profession as Assistant Approach Officer and Torpedo Data Computer Operator during Submarine War Patrols in enemy-controlled waters during World War II. His calm and accurate analysis of attack data was of material assistance to his Commanding Officer in conducting attacks which resulted in sinking over 87,000 tons of enemy shipping and damaging over 63,000 tons. During one night surface attack, he coolly reported essential information from an exposed location in the face of accurate enemy gunfire. His conduct throughout these patrols was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: Commander in Chief Pacific: Serial 02903 (November 24, 1943)
Action Date: World War II
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant
Company: Assistant Approach Officer
Division: United States Submarine

From Hall of Valor:

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Lieutenant Commander Montrose Graham McCormick (NSN: 0-82326), United States Navy, for gallantry and intrepidity in action in the performance of his duties as Assistant Approach Officer in the U.S.S. COBIA (SS-245), during the FIRST War Patrol of that Submarine from 26 June - 14 August 1944. His excellent judgment and knowledge of attack problems assisted his Commanding Officer considerably in conducting operations which resulted in sinking enemy ships totaling more than 24,000 tons. His calm manner and devotion to duty contributed directly to the success of his vessel. His conduct throughout was an inspiration to the officers and men in his ship and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: Commander in Chief Pacific: Serial 02652 (March 30, 1945)
Action Date: June 26 - August 14, 1944
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant Commander
Company: Assistant Approach Officer
Division: U.S.S. Cobia (SS-245)

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.

The Navy Directory was a publication that provided information on the command, billet, and rank of every active and retired naval officer. Single editions have been found online from January 1915 and March 1918, and then from three to six editions per year from 1923 through 1940; the final edition is from April 1941.

The entries in both series of documents are sometimes cryptic and confusing. They are often inconsistent, even within an edition, with the name of commands; this is especially true for aviation squadrons in the 1920s and early 1930s.

Alumni listed at the same command may or may not have had significant interactions; they could have shared a stateroom or workspace, stood many hours of watch together… or, especially at the larger commands, they might not have known each other at all. The information provides the opportunity to draw connections that are otherwise invisible, though, and gives a fuller view of the professional experiences of these alumni in Memorial Hall.