ROBERT B. BILLINGS, ENS, USN
Robert Billings '45
Lucky Bag
From the 1945 Lucky Bag:
Robert Burton Billings
Aurora, Illinois
After a year of engineering at Purdue, Bob got a whiff of salt air and headed for the Academy. Coming right along with him were his big bag of golf clubs and his guitar. "Bing" soon became a regular member of the rhythm section of the NA-10, but he was better known for his ten minute jam-sessions just before taps. He kept himself well supplied with feminine addresses; almost every Saturday noon saw him heading for town to pick up one of his numerous drags. Bob's personality and ability should make him as welcome in the Fleet as he has been among his friends at the Academy.
Golf 4; Battalion Pushball 3; NA-10, 4, 3, 1; Italian Club 4, 3.
He was a member of the 8th Company staff (1st set).The Class of 1945 was graduated in June 1944 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
Robert Burton Billings
Aurora, Illinois
After a year of engineering at Purdue, Bob got a whiff of salt air and headed for the Academy. Coming right along with him were his big bag of golf clubs and his guitar. "Bing" soon became a regular member of the rhythm section of the NA-10, but he was better known for his ten minute jam-sessions just before taps. He kept himself well supplied with feminine addresses; almost every Saturday noon saw him heading for town to pick up one of his numerous drags. Bob's personality and ability should make him as welcome in the Fleet as he has been among his friends at the Academy.
Golf 4; Battalion Pushball 3; NA-10, 4, 3, 1; Italian Club 4, 3.
He was a member of the 8th Company staff (1st set).The Class of 1945 was graduated in June 1944 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
Loss
Robert was lost at sea when USS Indianapolis (CA 35) was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine on July 30, 1945.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Robert graduated from West High School in 1940. Glee Club 1, 2; Lettermen’s Club 3, 4; Student Council 2; Football (played end) 3, 4; Basketball 1, 2, 3, 4; Track 2, 3; Golf 1, 2, 3, 4; Intramural Basketball 1, 2, 3, 4; Class Vice-President 2; Prom Committee. National Honor Society.
His father, Edward Joseph, was a stockbroker; he was also survived by his mother Catherine, and sister Jane. At Purdue he was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.
He has a memory marker in California.
Photographs
All photos from his high school yearbook.
Related Articles
Harold Moynelo, Jr. ’45 was also lost in the sinking.
Conrad Grove, Jr. '45, Lloyd Wyatt, Jr. '45, Arthur Day '45, James Dawley, Jr. '45, Jack Flanagan '45, Alfred Sawyer '45, Richard Hodsdon '45, and John Horn '45 were also in 8th Company.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
