Harold Cheuvront Lundy, Jr.

Aviation Radioman First Class, United States Navy

Distinguished Flying Cross

Harold Jr., was the eldest child and only son of Harold Cheuvront Lundy and Elizabeth Mae Barham who married on 03 Mar 1920 in Omaha, Douglas, NE. Harold's siblings were Gerre Mae, Martha Jean and Joan Lundy.

Harold, or Jack as he was known, graduated from Bethany High School, 07 Jun 1938. He applied for enlistment in the US Navy later that month. After he completed an aptitude test, physical exam, obtaining personal references and his parent's permission, Jack enlisted in the US Navy (NSN: 316 55 29) on 13 Jul 1938 in Omaha, Nebraska as an Apprentice Seaman (A.S.). He transferred to the US Naval Training Station (NTS), Great Lakes, IL for recruit training.

He graduated in early Oct 1938 and was granted 12 days of recruit leave. He returned in late Oct to NTS Great Lakes. He was detached in Nov and transferred to the 16 week course of instruction at the radioman service (Class "A") school at NTS, San Diego, CA. During his schooling he advanced in rate to Seaman Second Class (S2/c). S2/c Lundy detached from the NTS, San Diego and reported as a passenger to the USS Utah (AG-16) on 26 April 1939 for further transfer to the aircraft carrier, USS Saratoga (CV-3), reporting for duty on 14 May 1939. S2/c Lundy advanced in rate to Radioman Third Class (RM3) on 16 Feb 1940 from S2/c (Apparently he was double promoted skipping over Seaman 1/c). He advanced in rate to RM2 on 01 July 1941. RM2 Lundy extended his enlistment on 19 Sept 1941, and the next day he transferred from Saratoga to Torpedo Squadron Three (VT-3) embarked on board Saratoga, for duty. Later, RM2 Lundy advanced in rate to Aviation Radioman First Class (ARM1/c).

Harold Cheuvront "Jack" Lundy Jr. married Jean Mildred Warfield on 12 Nov 1941 at the Little Chapel of the Dawn in Santa Monica, Los Angeles, CA. Less than a month later America was at war with Japan. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, Saratoga was entering San Diego Harbor to embark her air group, which had been training ashore while the ship was refitting. The air group consisted of 11 Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat fighters of VF-3, 43 Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers of VB-3 and VS-3, and 11 Douglas TBD Devastator torpedo bombers of VT-3. The ship also loaded 14 Marine Corps Brewster F2A-3 Buffalo fighters of VMF-221 for delivery in Oahu. The following morning the Saratoga, now the flagship of Carrier Division One, commanded by Rear Admiral Aubrey Fitch, sailed for Pearl Harbor. She arrived at Pearl Harbor on 15 Dec 1941, refueled, reprovisioned, and steamed for Wake Island the next day with orders to relieve the Marine garrison on Wake. After weather caused delays and reports of heavy Japanese carrier airstrikes and troop landings, Saratoga and the rest of Task Force 14 was recalled to Pearl Harbor on 23 Dec 1941.

On 11 Jan 1942, while Saratoga steamed towards a rendezvous with USS Enterprise (CV-6), she was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine. She returned to Pearl Harbor for temporary repairs then steamed to the West Coast shipyard at Bremerton for more extensive repairs on 2 Feb 1942. During the yard period Saratoga's embarked squadrons were transferred elsewhere. VT-3 was assigned first to NAS Pearl Harbor at Ford Island then to NAS Kaneohe Bay on Hawaii. On 28 May 1942, the squadron was reassigned to the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV-5).

About a week later on 4 June 1942 Ltjg Curtis W. Howard and his gunner ARM1 Harold C. Lundy Jr., launched their torpedo plane from the flight deck of Yorktown with other planes of the Yorktown air group to attack the Japanese Striking Forces approaching Midway. Although they had some friendly fighter protection enroute to their targets VT-3 had to thread their way through a gauntlet of swarming enemy fighters and a hail of anti-aircraft fire. Of the twelve torpedo planes that took off from the Yorktown that morning only two survived the attack, and they had to ditch in the ocean. Ltjg Howard and Petty Officer Lundy did not return from this mission. They were listed as missing in action. Their remains unrecoverable. A telegram from the Navy Department in Washington, DC notified Jack's family that he was missing in the service of his country. On 5 Jun 1943, ARM1 Lundy was "presumed" dead.

Petty Officer Lundy received the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Purple Heart, American Defense Service Medal w/Fleet Clasp, American Campaign Medal w./Fleet Clasp, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/one bronze star and the World War II Victory Medal.

On 29 Oct 1943, Jean Mildred Warfield Lundy died while undergoing a Tonsillectomy at a Pasadena hospital. She was 20 years old. A double funeral service for Jean and Jack was held on 04 Nov 1943 in Los Angeles, CA.

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The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to Harold Cheuvront Lundy, Jr., Aviation Radioman First Class, United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as gunner of a plane in attacks against enemy Japanese forces in the Battle of Midway, 4 June 1942. Disregarding the extreme danger from intense anti-aircraft fire, he assisted in repelling overwhelming fighter forces with vigorous and heroic determination, thereby aiding his squadron in pressing home the attack.

General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 312 (March 1943)

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Honor Scroll

His family also received a commemoration in honor of Petty Officer Lundy from President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The citation reads: In grateful memory of Harold Cheuvront Lundy Jr., who died in the service of his country, SEA, Pacific Area, ATTACHED U.S.S. YORKTOWN, 5 JUNE 1943 (Presumed). He stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live and grow and increase its blessings. Freedom lives, and through it, he lives -- in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men.

(Signed) Franklin D. Roosevelt,

President of the United States

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Newspaper, The Lincoln Star (Lincoln, NE) - 28 Nov 1943, Sun - p. 24, Double Funeral Services for Jack and Jean Warfield Lundy were held Nov 4, 1943, at Los Angeles, Calif. Jean Warfield Lundy, 20, died at Pasadena while undergoing a tonsillectomy. Her husband, Harold Cheuvront "Jack" Lundy, 23, was killed in action at the battle of Midway. Both born in Lincoln, Jean, July 6, 1923 and Jack, Sept. 19, 1920. Both were Students of Bethany high school, where Jean was chosen cheer leader and football queen in 1940. They were married Nov 12, 1941 and lived at Coronado, Calif. He was an aviation radioman first class and the recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross.

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Combat Action Ribbon (CAR) note:

None of the Navy/Marine flight crews in the Battle of Midway were eligible for or awarded the Combat Action Ribbon (CR). See Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual (SECNAVINST M-1650.1 of 16 Aug 2019, Appendix 2C.1.c (3) Amplifying Guidance). It reads in part, “The CR will not be awarded in connection with aerial flight, . . . “ The CR was established in 1969 and made retroactive to 07 Dec 1941.

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[bio#164 compiled and written by Gerry Lawton (GML470)]

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