WILLIAM N. CURRIE, LTJG, USN
William Currie '57
Lucky Bag
From the 1957 Lucky Bag:
WILLIAM NOAH CURRIE
Macon, Mississippi
Bill came up to Navy Tech looking for a pair of Navy wings after spending three years playing poker and golf at Mississippi State College. Skimming through the academics with no strain, Bill divided his afternoons between novels and company football, but was always faced in the evenings with a choice between his correspondence with a half dozen lovelies in as many states and an opportunity to demonstrate his ability with a deck of cards. This Southern Gentleman maintained his easy-going stride down to the wire, and, as he said by sticking close to his miniature of Jeff Davis, came through unscathed and standing well towards the top of his class in all ten departments.
WILLIAM NOAH CURRIE
Macon, Mississippi
Bill came up to Navy Tech looking for a pair of Navy wings after spending three years playing poker and golf at Mississippi State College. Skimming through the academics with no strain, Bill divided his afternoons between novels and company football, but was always faced in the evenings with a choice between his correspondence with a half dozen lovelies in as many states and an opportunity to demonstrate his ability with a deck of cards. This Southern Gentleman maintained his easy-going stride down to the wire, and, as he said by sticking close to his miniature of Jeff Davis, came through unscathed and standing well towards the top of his class in all ten departments.
Loss
Bill was lost when his fighter crashed while operating from USS Hancock (CV 19) on November 7, 1960 in the South China Sea; he was a member of Fighter Squadron (VF) 111.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
William was a sophomore in 1952 at Mississippi State participating in the chemical engineering club and band.
After graduation from the Naval Academy, he attended the Currie Reunion at the Wilkinson Memorial Church near Raleigh, Mississippi, in August 1957. He gave a talk on the extensive four-year training young men undergo at the academy, at sea and in ports over the world. Many questions were answered by him. On August 15, he reported to Pensacola for flight training.
His grandfather E. Noah Currie, Sr., served several years in the Legislature as did his great-grandfather Rev. Roderick M. Currie. The latter also served as Smith County tax assessor during the War Between the States and was on the police board of the state after the close of the war.
William has a memory marker in Mississippi.
Related Articles
William Tilson '57 was also in 5th Company.
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