|
 |
MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly Jan '49
John Robert Steel, Jr. No. 15655 Class
of 1946 Killed at age 23, December 2, 1947 at Langley
Field, Virginia. |
JOHN ROBERT STEEL, JR., only son · of Mr. and
Mrs. John R. Steele, was horn on the twenty-fourth of January,
1924, in Houston, Texas. Shortly after his birth, his family
moved to Madisonville, Texas, where he spent his early boyhood
and attended grammar school. At the age of ten, on his own initiative,
he wrote to Washington, D. C., requesting the entrance requirements
for the United States Military Academy as well as those for Randolph
Field. So it was that at an early age he set for himself the
high goals which he was ultimately to achieve. About this time,
he and his family moved to Austin, Texas, where he graduated
from high school in June of 1941. Athletics and choral work had
now become his principal interests. His qualities of leadership
were amply demonstrated in sports and in the classroom; he became
an Eagle Scout at the age of fifteen; and in his senior year,
a member of the National Honor Society.
In the fall of 1941, he entered the University of Texas,
where he was an honor Engineering student and a member of Theta
Xi Fraternity. Although offered an appointment to the United
States Naval Academy in 1942, he preferred to follow his chosen
career by enlisting in the Army Air Forces and accepting a later
appointment to West Point.
He entered the Academy in July of 1943 and emerged from the
trials and tribulations of Plebe Year as a Yearling Corporal.
He was a member of the Chapel Choir and the Glee Club as well
as the anchor man of several impromptu Barbershop Quartets flourishing
at that time in the First Regiment. Here also he was active in
sports as a member of the Water Soccer Club and the Weight Lifting
Club. In the spring of 1945, he left with his Air Cadet classmates
to begin his training as an Army flyer. His remaining cadet days
were spent in flight training, academics, and the usual leisure
pursuits of First Classmen, and in June of 1946, he proudly accepted
his commission and the silver wings of an Army pilot.
On graduation, he reported for duty at Williams Field, Arizona,
where he finished Fixed Gunnery and Fighter Transition Schools
with exceptionally high flight and scholastic ratings. It was
during this period that he established a reputation for maintaining
the only neat corner in an otherwise casual and emancipated room,
and an enviable string of wins in the perennial penny-ante poker
games incident to bachelors’ quarters. His constant drive
toward perfection in every phase of his training never suffered
the usual Graduation recession. He applied himself wholeheartedly
to each new task. His greatest hopes were realized upon his assignment
to a Jet propelled reconnaissance squadron then stationed
at Brooks Field, Texas. Shortly thereafter, Johnny’s squadron
was transferred to Langley Field, Virginia, and he left his beloved
Texas for the last time. Though a new pilot, his ability was
quickly recognized, and he was assigned to positions of flight
and ground responsibility.
His squadron, the 161st, was one of the first to be assigned
the new FP-80 Shooting Star; and, as such, was called on for
numerous Air Demonstrations and tactical problems around the
country. In a squadron of seasoned pilots, his uniformly excellent
flying earned him a place in every show and the job of engineering
test pilot. He received gold wings from the Navy in a class with
the Navy at Norfolk, VA.
It was on the bright blue day of December the second, 1947,
that a jet went out of control in the landing pattern and snapped
onto its back. The pilot righted it instantly, and calmly cut
switches and fought to bring it out of the dive to the ground.
His efforts, though superb, were to no avail.
The squadron was stunned to learn that it was Johnny. An aerial
review was flown at the memorial service by his friends.
Of the thousands of people we meet in a lifetime, a few remain
with us always. It is not too much to say that Johnny was loved
and respected by every member of his class and squadron. His
friends will take care of Johnny’s memory.
“Man cannot live by bread alone; only his dreams and his
vision sustain him.”
Thomas G. Gee.
1st Lt., U.S.A.F., ‘46.
|