Query

James Victor Query Jr

James V Query Jr

James Victor Query Jr. was born in Harrisburg, North Carolina on October 30, 1903, son of Jay ('J') V. and Lola J. (Morrison) Query. He attended Charlotte, North Carolina, High School before entering the US Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, from his native state in 1921. Graduated and commissioned Ensign on June 4, 1925, he subsequently advanced in rank to that of Captain, to date from 20 July 1943.

Upon graduation from the Naval Academy in June of 1925, he was assigned to the Office of Naval Communications. Later he was transferred to the USS New York, and served as a junior officer in that battleship, the New York was the Flagship of Battleship Division 2 of the Scouting Fleet, until the summer of 1926. He then transferred to the USS Dallas, (DD-199) that was a Clemson-class destroyer. She was the second ship named for Captain Alexander J. Dallas who established the Pensacola Navy Yard. She was the Squadron Leader of Squadron 9 of the Scouting Fleet. Query served aboard her for four years, the last year as her Engineering Officer.

Reporting for instruction at the Submarine Base, New London, Connecticut, he qualified in submarines, and in 1931 was ordered to the Sixteenth Naval District, Cavite, Philippine Islands, where he had successive duty in the submarines S-30, and S-31, operating with Submarine Division 10, Asiatic Fleet.

Query returned to Annapolis in 1933, he had postgraduate instruction in Applied Communication and General Line (Officers School) at the Postgraduate School. In July 1935 he reported for duty aboard the USS Tarpon SS 175 and served as her Executive Officer and Navigator from 1937 to 1939. He was on duty at the Submarine Base, Pearl Harbor during a two year period ending July 1941.

Transferring to operations in the Atlantic, he was serving as Operations Officer on the staff of Commander, Submarine Squadron One, Atlantic Fleet, when the United States entered World War II on December 8, 1941. For meritorious service in that capacity from August 1941 until January 1944, he received a Letter of Commendation with authorization to wear the Commendation Ribbon from the Commander in Chief, Atlantic Fleet.

After serving as Division Commander Submarines, Atlantic Fleet, during the entire year of 1944, he again transferred to the Pacific Theater where he had duty as Chief Staff Officer on the Staff of Commander Service Division 32 (later 102) Pacific Fleet. He received a Letter of Commendation (with Star for Commendation Ribbon) from the Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet, for 'meritorious conduct in the performance of his duties as Chief Staff Officer to Commander Service Division 102 at Pearl Harbor in June 1945,' and continued in that assignment until December 1946.

Ordered in December 1946 to Headquarters, Sixth Naval District Naval Base, Charleston, South Carolina, he served first as Senior Member of the Submarine Board of Inspection and Survey for that District, and on June 30, 1947 was designated Assistant Chief of Staff (Personnel) on the Staff of Commandant, Sixth Naval District.

On March 2, 1949 he was ordered to duty as Commanding Officer of the USS General William Mitchell (AP 114). On January 25, 1950 he was ordered relieved of that command and back to the Sixth Naval District for duty as a Member of the Physical Evaluation Board. He retired from the service in May 1953.

Captain Query died in Baltimore, Maryland December 4, 1975. Burial: United States Naval Academy Cemetery, Annapolis, Maryland,

He was married to Evelyn L. Downey in June of 1930. She was 26 at the time and he was 27. They married at Annapolis, Maryland. They had two children; Samuel Jay Query 1932 to 2013 and James Victor Query III 1935 who died shortly after birth as did Evelyn. She died as the result of child birth. He was a widower with a child.

It is uncertain at what point he remarried to Dorothy M Powell, a widow. This marriage brought 3 step children into the family, Hugh. Mary Louise and Margo. They had two daughters together, Patricia and Diana. Dorothy died in 1965.

After Dorothy died he was married to a Navy Officer, Lieut. Noreen J. Maloney USN, who died in 1985.

Interestingly, all 3 wives are buried with with James Query as well as James Victor Query III.

In addition to the Commendation Ribbon with star, Captain Query had the Yangtze Service Medal, the American Defense Service Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.

Biography based on data supplied by the Naval History and Heritage Command, Ancestry.com and various newspapers sources.

US Navy Photo

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