RICHARD O. MONGRAIN, LT, USN
Richard Mongrain '51
Lucky Bag
From the 1951 Lucky Bag:
Richard Orton Mongrain
Marietta, Minnesota
"Oye ban from Minn-e-sota" . . . sure they talk like that . . . an alumnus of the Navy's V-12 program . . . quite speaker, but he'll never convince the boys that he hasn't been starring all his life . . . just trying to keep his head above the water . . . water being at the 3.8 level . . . "I bilged that last exam" . . . below 3.9! . . . always willing to explain that tough problem for you, though . . . seems there's a girl named Ginnie . . . dragging this weekend, R. O.? . . . Navy Tech lost a potential half-back when he resolve to hit the books . . . loves competition in anything . . . a job worth doing, is worth doing well . . . he does it well . . . always.
He was a member of the 1st Regiment staff (June week).
Richard Orton Mongrain
Marietta, Minnesota
"Oye ban from Minn-e-sota" . . . sure they talk like that . . . an alumnus of the Navy's V-12 program . . . quite speaker, but he'll never convince the boys that he hasn't been starring all his life . . . just trying to keep his head above the water . . . water being at the 3.8 level . . . "I bilged that last exam" . . . below 3.9! . . . always willing to explain that tough problem for you, though . . . seems there's a girl named Ginnie . . . dragging this weekend, R. O.? . . . Navy Tech lost a potential half-back when he resolve to hit the books . . . loves competition in anything . . . a job worth doing, is worth doing well . . . he does it well . . . always.
He was a member of the 1st Regiment staff (June week).
Loss
From the June 1958 issue of Shipmate:
I regret to report the death of DICK MONGRAIN (LT USN) on 12 April [1958] near Sioux Falls, S. D. Dick was attempting an instrument landing in an overcast at Joe Foss Airfield when, according to witnesses, his TV-2 jet plane exploded in midair. He was attached to the U. S. Naval Air Special Weapons Facility in Albuquerque, N. M., at the time of his death. He was formerly attached to Patrol Squadron 28. He was on his way home to see his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Nelson W. Mongrain, of Marietta, Minn. Dick was an outstanding member of our class; his passing is a great loss to us all.
From the Deadwood Pioneer-Times of Deadwood, South Dakota:
SIOUX FALLS A Navy lieutenant from Albuquerque. N. M., was killed Saturday when his jet trainer exploded and crashed five miles northwest of Sioux Falls. The victim was Richard O. Mongrain, about 29. Waiting to meet Mongrain at the Sioux Falls airport were his sister and brother-in-law
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Richard and his future wife Virginia Carol Sherburne applied for a marriage license in March 1947. They finally married on June 6, 1951, in the Gary Methodist Church in Gary, South Dakota. Ensign Clyde Middleton (’51) was his best man, and ushers included Ensigns Jack Tetrick (’51) and Robert Small (‘51.)
In April 1954, Richard planned a party for the returning “Privateers” of VP-28 at the Barber’s Point Officers’ club in Honolulu. In September, Richard and Lt. (jg) Edward S. Cook planned VP-28’s “Last of the Privateers” party in Honolulu. Attired as pirates or sleuths, the officers and their wives went on a treasure hunt and followed clues leading to the Schofield Barrack Officers’ club for refreshments and dancing.
Dick was survived by his wife, Virginia and his children, Ann, 3, and Richard, Jr., 5. He is buried in Minnesota.
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