WALTER E. JENNINGS, LT, USN

Walter Jennings '56

Date of birth: October 19, 1931

Date of death: July 6, 1960

Age: 28

Lucky Bag

From the 1956 Lucky Bag:

WALTER EUGENE JENNINGS

Youngstown, Ohio

Walt came to us after spending two years in the Fleet. He was born in Youngstown, Ohio, and graduated from Channy High, where he was an all around athlete and student. Since his first days at the Academy, boxing occupied most of his afternoons, and this influenced his entering the Brigade Boxing matches, where he was runner-up in his class. He also boxed for his Battalion, and ran steeplechase during the winter. A lover of polkas, he could and often did listen to them all afternoon. Walt, with his ready smile and quiet manner, won the admiration of all those who knew him.

WALTER EUGENE JENNINGS

Youngstown, Ohio

Walt came to us after spending two years in the Fleet. He was born in Youngstown, Ohio, and graduated from Channy High, where he was an all around athlete and student. Since his first days at the Academy, boxing occupied most of his afternoons, and this influenced his entering the Brigade Boxing matches, where he was runner-up in his class. He also boxed for his Battalion, and ran steeplechase during the winter. A lover of polkas, he could and often did listen to them all afternoon. Walt, with his ready smile and quiet manner, won the admiration of all those who knew him.

Obituary

From USNA '56:

Walt was born October 19, 1931, and was raised in Youngstown, Ohio, where he excelled as an athlete and student while attending Chaney High. Following graduation Walt, a member of Hillman Lodge 481, F&AM, worked in a steel mill and as a surveyor. During the Korean War, Walt enlisted in the Navy where he served two years in the fleet and then on to the Naval Academy Preparatory School (NAPS). He then entered the Naval Academy and graduated with the Class of 1956. While a Midshipman, Walt showed early leadership qualities as a three striper. He won the Silver Gloves as a brigade boxing champion in 1953.
Following graduation, Walt served aboard USS Boxer (CVS 21), then with bride Mary Ann they went to flight training in Pensacola, Florida. He then transitioned into the airship program at Glenco (Brunswick) Georgia, which had appealed to him during Midshipman days. After training, they were transferred to Lakehurst, New Jersey, where Walt became a member of Airborne Early Warning Squadron One. On 6 July 1960, Walt was on an intensive search mission over the Atlantic Ocean off New Jersey in his ZPG-3W radar blimp named Reliance, which was the largest non-rigid airship ever made. During that operation, Reliance was lost at sea and Walt was reported missing with 18 of the 21 crew members.
Mary Ann returned to Ohio, then moved to California where she raised their two daughters Cheryl Ann and Toni Lynn, and her son John from her second marriage [to William Bussey].

Walter is buried in Ohio.