THOMAS G. WARE, JR., LT, USN
Thomas Ware, Jr. '44
Lucky Bag
From the 1944 Lucky Bag:
Thomas Grant Ware, Jr.
Spokane, Washington
"Sam, that's the most beautiful country in the world. You should see those snow-capped mountains, those crystal lakes, those. . . . Thus Tom would spend odd moments telling us about his beloved Washington. Tom was perpetual motion personified. There were few minutes of any day that he did not fill with sixty seconds of activity. Amiable and energetic, Tommy was well satisfied with the shortened academic course. To him it meant getting into action a year sooner, and nothing pleased him more. When not studying, "Silver" was often engaged in swimming, sailing, softball, tennis, singing in the Glee Club, or dragging. With his ready smile, Tom is prepared for action.
The Class of 1944 was graduated in June 1943 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
Thomas Grant Ware, Jr.
Spokane, Washington
"Sam, that's the most beautiful country in the world. You should see those snow-capped mountains, those crystal lakes, those. . . . Thus Tom would spend odd moments telling us about his beloved Washington. Tom was perpetual motion personified. There were few minutes of any day that he did not fill with sixty seconds of activity. Amiable and energetic, Tommy was well satisfied with the shortened academic course. To him it meant getting into action a year sooner, and nothing pleased him more. When not studying, "Silver" was often engaged in swimming, sailing, softball, tennis, singing in the Glee Club, or dragging. With his ready smile, Tom is prepared for action.
The Class of 1944 was graduated in June 1943 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
Loss
Thomas was lost on November 8, 1953 when his plane crashed at sea while operating from USS Wasp. (Information from January 1954 issue of Shipmate.)
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Thomas graduated from Lewis and Clark high school in 1939. President of Papyrus; Downs Award in History. A pianist, he was vice president of the Pandean Music Club in May, 1938. At Washington State college, he was a member of the junior swimming team. He also worked as a caretaker on the college golf course.
When West Point appointments were filled, Thomas went to Washington, D. C., without telling his parents. Through the help of Congressman Charles Leavy, he secured an appointment to the Naval Academy.
Thomas belonged to the 171st fighter squadron based in Jacksonville. He was killed while landing on the USS Wasp near the Philippines. The landing hook on his plane failed to engage the wire which brings planes to a halt. His body was recovered.
His father was Thomas Grant Ware, Spokane sporting goods store owner. He was seriously injured in WWI and served in the 361st infantry, 91st division overseas. His mother was Priscilla, sister Marlyn.
In November 6, 1935, The Spokane Chronicle published Thomas’ story “Sunset at Priest Lake.” It was selected as the Kimta Tilakum club’s contest prize winner.
Slowly, majestically, the sun sank below the western hill. Somewhere near a robin chirped as it flew to get the last worm he would get that day. A squirrel chattered as he ran down the limb of a near-by tree to get a pine cone. The lake was smooth and the far banks were mirrored in it. The wind had strung the clouds across the sky, stretching in a great crescent from the south to the west. They resembled a person’s hair on a windy day, for they were long, fiber-like clouds with the strands pointing in all directions. Gradually as the sun sank lower below the hills the clouds became colored. To the south the clouds took on the shades of pink. The lake from the reflections of the clouds turned the shades of pink as the clouds changed colors. Unperceptable to the human eye the clouds became darker and darker until instead of being pink they were red. The clouds to the west, meanwhile, had become a bright yellow. In a few minutes as they kept getting darker, the color contrasts became striking. To the south the clouds had become purple at the farthest tip. As the eye moved westward the clouds tinted from purple to red, from red to orange and from orange to yellow. The lake took on the corresponding hues. As the sun receded farther the colors left the clouds. The moon rose in all its silvery wonder, and with it came the end of a perfect day. Thomas Grant Ware Jr., 14, W45 33d.
On May 20, 1936, The Spokane Chronicle published Thomas’ story “The Osprey.” It was selected by the Kimta Tilakum club.
All of nature is wonderful and awe inspiring. In my mind one of its greatest works is the osprey, or fish hawk. This gigantic bird has a wing spread the length of a person’s arms when they are stretched out.
I will never forget one time when I saw one of these hawks catch a fish. Gracefully he glided over the mirrorlike surface of the lake, flying in great circles, his small head protruding between his muscular shoulders. His beady eyes were watching ceaselessly the blue water. Suddenly to the right a silver glint broke the surface of the lake into a myriad of ripples. The osprey made a smaller circle, as if to make certain.
I saw it was a fish, a beautiful trout whose green scales showed silver as the sunlight played on them. It was swimming near the surface, snapping at an unsuspecting fly. The osprey glided lower in a series of circles until he was about 30 feet above the water. He poised a minute, then drawing in his wings he plunged down like a rock. There was a huge splash and almost before he hit he rose again bearing in his talons a wiggling, squirming fish. With great flaps he carried it to the nest to devour it, leaving me with a memory I shall probably never forget. Thomas Grant Ware, Jr., 15, W610 Fourteenth.
He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. His wife, Marian, is buried with him; they had two daughters together, Cathryn and Judith, (and five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren as of January 2017).
Photographs
From his high school yearbook
From the Spokane Chronicle on July 11, 1940
Related Articles
Albert Gross ’44 was also on the swim team.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
