ROBERT L. KRAG, LCDR, USN
Robert Krag '50
Lucky Bag
From the 1950 Lucky Bag:
ROBERT LEE KRAG
Minot, North Dakota
Although you would think from his achievements that Bob had a Master's degree from two or three engineering schools, Bob came to Navy Tech directly from high school. Because of his unusual intense loyalty to the service and his friends as well as his "I'm from Norway" smile, Bob got along well with classmates and professors alike. The subject of a lot of ribbing, he was the perfect fall guy; and we loved him all the more for it. Speaking of love, Bob was constantly enamored with the fair sex. We got more gray hairs worrying about Bob and his women than about our academics.
ROBERT LEE KRAG
Minot, North Dakota
Although you would think from his achievements that Bob had a Master's degree from two or three engineering schools, Bob came to Navy Tech directly from high school. Because of his unusual intense loyalty to the service and his friends as well as his "I'm from Norway" smile, Bob got along well with classmates and professors alike. The subject of a lot of ribbing, he was the perfect fall guy; and we loved him all the more for it. Speaking of love, Bob was constantly enamored with the fair sex. We got more gray hairs worrying about Bob and his women than about our academics.
Loss
Robert was lost on April 10, 1963 when USS Thresher (SSN 593) sank in the Atlantic Ocean.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Robert graduated from Minot High School in 1946. He was a photographer for yearbook Searchlight. Class Prophecy at the Minot Post Office: "Here is Bob Krag after his mail for Krag’s Drug Store. Bob has the best Drug Store in town. He fills prescriptions by the hundreds."
From USS Thresher Memorial:
Robert Lee Krag was born on January 5, 1928, in Hannaford, North Dakota, the son of Mrs. Inga Olson Krag and the late Mr. Seren L. Krag.
Robert spent his early boyhood in North Dakota, and attended local schools there. An outstanding student, he as an accomplished musician, and an Eagle Scout. He studied the violin for 11 years and was president of his school symphony, first violinist in the school orchestra, and a member of the drum and bugle corps. He was graduated from Minot High School as co-valedictorian of his class in June 1946.
He then entered the Naval Academy and excelled as a student, participated in sports, served as manager of the lacrosse team, and was in the drum and bugle corps.
Graduating with the class of 1950, he was assigned his first sea duty in the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA 42), where he served for 3 years.
Selected for postgraduate study, Robert attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology for 3 years, earning his master's degree in naval engineering, and placing highest in his class in electrical engineering. At MIT, he was a member of Sigman Xi and Tau Beta Pi, professional honor societies. He won first prize in the 1955 essay contest sponsored by Tau Beta Pi. His essay, entitled, "The Uncommon Man," was made required reading in the executive training program of at least one prominent industrial firm.
After leaving MIT, Robert entered submarine training at New London, Connecticut. Completing the training, he was graduated as honor-man, and was awarded the L. Y. Spear Prize. His first assignment in his new field was in the submarine U.S.S. Albacore (AGSS 569), the submarine with the most advanced hull design of any then operating.
He was designated qualified in submarines, and shortly after received orders to report for duty to the supervisor of shipbuilding, Groton, Connecticut, at the electric boat division of the General Dynamics Corp., in March, 1958.
His career from this time was devoted in the building and maintenance of nuclear-powered submarines.
He served as planning and estimating officer for more than 3 years, and received two commendations for his work in connection with the construction of U.S.S. Tullibee (SSN 597), and the modification of U.S.S. Seawolf (SSN 575).
In July 1961, Robert was reassigned to the staff of commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. Robert represented the commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, on all sea trials, and was embarked in Thresher in that capacity when the ship was lost.
Robert had just been elected president of the All Souls Unitarian-Universalist Church. Their church school building has been named in his honor.
During his naval service, Robert had earned the World War II Victory Medal, Navy Occupation Service Medal with European Clasp, and the National Defense Service medal.
Robert is survived by his widow, the former Olga Sapowicz of Manchester, N.H.; sons, Lee Scott, Eric Stewart, and Jeffrey Seren, and his mother, Mrs. Inga Margaret Krag of Minot, North Dakota.
From the now-defunct website USNA 1950:
In high school he was an accomplished musician and an Eagle Scout. He studied the violin for eleven years and was president of his school symphony, first violinist in the school orchestra, and a member of the drum and bugle corps. He was co-valedictorian of his high school class. After USNA graduation he was assigned the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt. He earned his master's degree in Naval Engineering at MIT, graduating highest in his class in electrical engineering. After completing submarine training, he was assigned to USS Albacore. He served as planning and estimating officer at General Dynamics Corp. in Groton, CT, working principally on USS Tulibee and USS Seawolf. He represented the Commander, Submarine Force, US Atlantic Fleet, on all sea trials, and was embarked on USS Thresher in that capacity when the ship was lost.
He has a memory marker in Arlington National Cemetery.
Photographs
From his high school yearbook
From the photography club page of his high school yearbook
From the USS Thresher Memorial
Related Articles
Philip Allen '45, John Billings '50, John Harvey '50, Michael DiNola '53, Robert Biederman '54, Merrill Collier '56, John Wiley '61, Guy Parsons, Jr. '59, James Henry, Jr. '60, Ronald Babcock '60, and John Grafton '61 were also lost when USS Thresher (SSN 593) sank with all hands on April 10, 1963.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
