View source for WENDELL G. OSBORN, LCDR, USNR

{{KeyDates|name_class=Wendell Osborn '27|DoB=October 23, 1905|DoD=November 13, 1942|Age=37}}

{{LuckyBag|LBLink=https://archive.org/details/luckybag1927unse|class=1927
|picture=1927 Osborn LB.jpg
|LBName=Wendell Gullefer Osborn
|LBHometown=Greensburg, Indiana
|LBNickname="Check" "Brute" "Ozzy"
|LBText=CHECK'S earlier life was spent in Greensburg, a town famous for a tree growing out of the courthouse tower. After four years at Culver and three in the National Guard, he came here to add more honors, both academically and athletically, to his long list. He entered the Academy with a wonderful athletic record, and has proved his right to it, having three Army-Navy football games to his credit.
</p><p>
Check's life here has been an interesting one, and he has experienced every thrill that the Academy affords. His military ability won for him the position of Plebe five-striper. His love of adventure carried him up to the fourth deck Plebe year, and he experienced plenty of it, so he tells us. His great hobby is to possess non-reg clothing, and this proved very disastrous to him on more than one occasion.
</p><p>
His ability to make friends is unequaled. Not until Second Class cruise, however, did he offer any encouragement to the girls, but fate was against him. His big heart, broad smile, and good fellow- ship have made him a friend never to be forgotten. He is the type of man who makes us want to go "down to the sea in ships."
</p><p>
May the best of luck be with you always. Check, and we hope to see you as Admiral with the most non-reg cap that has ever been devised.
|LBECAs=''Football: A Squad (3, 2, 1) Block N (3, 2, 1) Navy Numerals (4) Plebe Team; Swimming: Class (3) Class Numerals (3); Water Polo: Class (4) Class Numerals (4); Ring Committee.''}}

== Loss ==
Wendell was [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56773673/wendell-g-osborn lost] when [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Juneau_(CL-52) USS Juneau (CL 52)] was sunk at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Battle_of_Guadalcanal Naval Battle of Guadalcanal] on November 13, 1942. 

== Other Information ==
From researcher Kathy Franz:
<blockquote>
Wendell was a native of Michigan. He graduated from Culver Military Academy as an honor cadet in 1923. He played football and basketball, was president of the senior class, president of the Y. M. C. A., vice president of the Cadet club and a member of the Glee Club. He also attended Greensburg High School.

At the Naval Academy, he played center on the football team. The Indianapolis News, November 26, 1926, reported that “his work against Princeton was considered exceptionally good as in that game he broke through the Tiger pivot and “smeared” many plays before they got under way.” He was to play center in the Army game at Chicago.

On July 29, 1927, he married Lena Louise Appel in the First Presbyterian church in Portsmouth, Ohio. They had a daughter, Priscilla.

He resigned from the Navy in 1929 to enter private business. First, he was with the Michigan Bell Telephone Company. Eight years later, he became head of the radio sales department of the Detroit News.

Wendell was recalled to active duty as a reserve officer in October, 1940.

His father was John, an attorney, and his mother was Grace.
</blockquote>

His wife was [http://www.naval-history.net/WW2UScasaaDB-USNbyNameO.htm listed as] next of kin.

== Photographs ==
<gallery mode=packed heights=350px style="text-align:left">
File:1927 Osborn 1.jpg|From the Portsmouth Daily Times on December 18, 1942
File:1927 Osborn 2.jpg|From The Indianapolis News on November 26, 1926
File:1927 Osborn 3.jpg|From the basketball page of the 1922 Culver Military Academy yearbook
File:1927 Osborn 4.jpg|From the 1923 Culver Military Academy yearbook
File:1927 Osborn 5.jpg|From the football page of the 1923 Culver Military Academy yearbook
</gallery>

{{NDexplainer}}
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|column2=[[CYRUS T. CLENDENING, LTJG, USN|ENS Cyrus Clendening '27]]
|column3=[[WARREN F. GRAF, LCDR, USN|ENS Warren Graf '27]]}}
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|column2=}}}}
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|column2=}}}}
{{ND|date=July 1928|rank=Ensign|command=USS West Virginia
|others={{NDcolumns|columns=3|column1=[[RALPH D. SMITH, LT, USN|ENS Ralph Smith '26]]
|column2=[[CYRUS T. CLENDENING, LTJG, USN|ENS Cyrus Clendening '27]]}}}}
{{ND|date=October 1928|rank=Ensign|command=USS West Virginia
|others={{NDcolumns|columns=3|column1=[[RALPH D. SMITH, LT, USN|ENS Ralph Smith '26]]<br />[[CYRUS T. CLENDENING, LTJG, USN|ENS Cyrus Clendening '27]]
|column2=[[CARL A. R. LINDGREN, LTJG, USN|ENS Carl Lindgren '28]]
|column3=[[WELDON L. HAMILTON, LCDR, USN|ENS Weldon Hamilton '28]]}}}}
{{ND|date=January 1929|rank=Ensign|command=USS West Virginia
|others={{NDcolumns|columns=3|column1=[[RALPH D. SMITH, LT, USN|ENS Ralph Smith '26]]<br />[[CYRUS T. CLENDENING, LTJG, USN|ENS Cyrus Clendening '27]]
|column2=[[CARL A. R. LINDGREN, LTJG, USN|ENS Carl Lindgren '28]]
|column3=[[WELDON L. HAMILTON, LCDR, USN|ENS Weldon Hamilton '28]]}}}}
{{ND|date=April 1929|rank=Ensign|command=USS West Virginia
|others={{NDcolumns|columns=3|column1=[[RALPH D. SMITH, LT, USN|ENS Ralph Smith '26]]<br />[[CYRUS T. CLENDENING, LTJG, USN|ENS Cyrus Clendening '27]]
|column2=[[CARL A. R. LINDGREN, LTJG, USN|ENS Carl Lindgren '28]]
|column3=[[WELDON L. HAMILTON, LCDR, USN|ENS Weldon Hamilton '28]]}}
|others2={{NDcolumns|columns=2|column1=[[STEPHEN B. COOKE, LCDR, USN|LT Stephen Cooke '21]] (Observation Squadron (VO) 5B)
|column2=}}}}
{{ND|date=July 1929|rank=Ensign|command=leave}}
{{ND|date=October 1929|rank=Ensign|command=Resigned}}

{{ClassNav|PAGE_ID={{PAGEID}}|Name=Wendell|ClassYear=1927|PreviousPersonLink=WARREN F. GRAF, LCDR, USN|PreviousPersonName=Warren Graf '27|NextPersonLink=THOMAS O. OBERRENDER, JR., LCDR, USN|NextPersonName=Thomas Oberrender, Jr. '27}}

[[Category:1927|Osborn]]
[[Category:US Naval Reserve|Osborn]]
[[Category:KIA|Osborn]]
[[Category:WWII|Osborn]]
[[Category:Pacific|Osborn]]
[[Category:Naval Battle of Guadalcanal|Osborn]]
[[Category:Ship|Osborn]]
[[Category:USS Juneau (CL 52)|Osborn]]
{{KIA|panel=WENDELL GULLEFER OSBORN}}