WILLIAM M. CHEWNING, LT, USN
William Chewning '42
Lucky Bag
From the 1942 Lucky Bag:
WILLIAM MURRAY CHEWNING
Richmond, Virginia
Billy, Blue Goose
Football has been Bill's main interest since he came to the Academy. Next to his football comes studying and sleeping but they were always incidental. His influence has been definite and lasting and it will be a long time before we shall forget his caustic humor or sharp criticism of our drags. What of his? They were all perfect, of course. So, more power to you, Bill, and may the Marines appreciate you as much as we have.
Football 4, 3, 2, 1, N*: Boxing 4, b42t, P.P.O.
The Class of 1942 graduated on December 19, 1941, less than two weeks after the United States entered World War II. The class had previously been scheduled to graduate in February 1942.
WILLIAM MURRAY CHEWNING
Richmond, Virginia
Billy, Blue Goose
Football has been Bill's main interest since he came to the Academy. Next to his football comes studying and sleeping but they were always incidental. His influence has been definite and lasting and it will be a long time before we shall forget his caustic humor or sharp criticism of our drags. What of his? They were all perfect, of course. So, more power to you, Bill, and may the Marines appreciate you as much as we have.
Football 4, 3, 2, 1, N*: Boxing 4, b42t, P.P.O.
The Class of 1942 graduated on December 19, 1941, less than two weeks after the United States entered World War II. The class had previously been scheduled to graduate in February 1942.
Loss
William was lost when USS Corvina (SS 226) was sunk on November 16, 1943 by a Japanese submarine.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
William attended St. Christopher’s School, Richmond, Virginia, graduating in 1938.
He married Betsey Stickney Johnson on March 6, 1943, at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Arlington, Massachusetts. He next went to New London, Connecticut, for submarine school.
He has a memory marker in Virginia and his wife was listed as next of kin.
Photographs
From his high school yearbook
From his high school yearbook
From Find A Grave
From the Lucky Bag
From the Lucky Bag
From The Philadelphia Inquirer on November 27, 1941. Note Sammy Boothe '42 is his classmate and also in Memorial Hall.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
