THOMAS F. SHARP, LCDR, USN

Thomas Sharp '35

Date of birth: October 4, 1912

Date of death: April 3, 1943

Age: 30

Lucky Bag

From the 1935 Lucky Bag:

THOMAS FREDERICK SHARP

Fort Benton, Montana

"Tom"

WHAT Tom lacks in size, he makes up in might. Formations always find him headed for the first section, in which he has a permanent seat. He has the rare type of engineering mind that registers all the details. Tom came to the Academy after a year at the University of Montana, where he found time to star in his subjects and become a Sigma Chi. Aviation will claim him in the future. At present, he contents himself with turning out beautifully finished models when the mood strikes him, which is often. Enforced idleness has kept him from starring in gymnastics, his chosen sport, but he likes tennis, and, in his lighter moods, furnishes good entertainment with ever ready humor.

Gym 4, 3, 2, 1, Numeral. Trident Society 2, 1. Orchestra 4. 3 Stripes.

THOMAS FREDERICK SHARP

Fort Benton, Montana

"Tom"

WHAT Tom lacks in size, he makes up in might. Formations always find him headed for the first section, in which he has a permanent seat. He has the rare type of engineering mind that registers all the details. Tom came to the Academy after a year at the University of Montana, where he found time to star in his subjects and become a Sigma Chi. Aviation will claim him in the future. At present, he contents himself with turning out beautifully finished models when the mood strikes him, which is often. Enforced idleness has kept him from starring in gymnastics, his chosen sport, but he likes tennis, and, in his lighter moods, furnishes good entertainment with ever ready humor.

Gym 4, 3, 2, 1, Numeral. Trident Society 2, 1. Orchestra 4. 3 Stripes.

Loss

Thomas was lost when USS Pickerel (SS 177) was sunk by Japanese vessels north of Honshū on April 3, 1943. He was the boat's executive officer.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Thomas graduated in 1930 from Fort Benson High School. He was recommended to the Naval Academy by Rep. Scott Leavitt.
Thomas’ father was Ulysses. S. Grant Sharp, proprietor of general merchandise/grocer. He was a nephew of U. S. Grant, Civil war general and later president of the United States. Thomas’ mother was Cora, and sister was Margaret (Mrs. William Angus.)

His wife was listed as next of kin. He was also survived by his brother, Ulysses Simpson Grant Sharp, who was class of 1927 and retired as an Admiral and Commander in Chief, Pacific.

Thomas is remembered at the Courts of the Missing in Hawaii.

Silver Star

From Hall of Valor:

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Commander Thomas Frederick Sharp (NSN: 0-75417), United States Navy, for gallantry and intrepidity in action in the performance of his duties in the U.S.S. PICKREL (SS-177), during the first FIVE War Patrols of that Submarine in enemy waters from 8 December 1941 to 26 August 1942. As Assistant Approach Officer, his excellent judgment and thorough knowledge of attack problems assisted his Commanding Officer considerably in conducting successful attacks which resulted in the sinking of two enemy freighters, totaling 10,000 tons, and the damaging of an additional enemy freighter of 4,800 tons. His coolness and devotion to duty contributed directly to the success of his vessel in evading enemy countermeasures. 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 03958 (July 12, 1945)
Action Date: December 8, 1941 - August 26, 1942
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant Commander
Company: Assistant Approach Officer
Division: U.S.S. Pickrel (SS-177)

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.