NAVY VETERAN HENRY A. BUMP SERVED IN WORLD WAR 2 KILLED IN NC CAR ACCIDENT

REMEMBER THE FALLEN

NAVY VETERAN HENRY A. BUMP

SERVED DURING WORLD WAR 2,

KILLED IN CAR ACCIDENT IN N.C.

(Periodically, the Gazette will publish biographical sketches of Middleboro’s service casualties. This is intended to remind our citizens about all veterans and especially those who gave their lives while in service of our country. A slogan worth repeating states: “ALL GAVE SOME, SOME GAVE ALL.”)

By Bob Lessard, Historian

Simeon L. Nickerson Post 64 American Legion.

Career Navy Officer Lieutenant Henry Austin Bump, who survived World War 2, was killed in an automobile accident on December 9, 1947 in Charlestown, North Carolina. His wife, the former Madelyn DeMoranville of 83 Everett Street, was notified of his death by telegram, reported the Middleboro Gazette edition of December 12.

Lieutenant Bump had risen through the ranks from an enlisted man to officer status. During his time in the Navy he served on a number of United States Naval ships, including nine years on submarines.

One of the submarines, S-21, on which he served, was built at the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation in Quincy in 1920. Lieutenant Bump was presented a medallion in 1925 with the identification of S-21 as a memento of serving aboard that submarine.

 According to Naval records, in 1941, Mr. Bump was serving as an Ensign aboard the Omaha Class cruiser USS Richmond, which had left Pearl Harbor in October to help patrol far West Coast waters. Later, during World War 2 the cruiser was assigned as an escort for convoys crossing the open seas.

At the time of his death at age 45, the Middleboro resident, who was born here on September 11, 1902, had served his country well during his long Navy career. According to the family, it was thought that Henry was one of Middleboro’s longest serving military members.

He was the son of Myron A. and Bessie (Merrihew) Bump. Survivors include his mother and his widow; a son Henry A., Jr., a junior high school student; two sisters, Mrs. Dorothy Parker and Mrs. Ethel Chase, both of Middleboro; and three brothers, Walter and Dana of Middleboro and Warren of Connecticut.

Lieutenant Bump’s body was returned from Charlestown to Middleboro under Naval escort. Egger’s Funeral Home on Pearl Street conducted funeral services. He was buried in Nemasket Hill Cemetery with full military honors.

 Representatives of Middleboro’s John Glass, Jr. Post 2188 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Simeon L. Nickerson Post 64 of the American Legion participated in the burial service. The Reverend George S. McNeil of Central Baptist Church officiated.

 Residents are reminded that memorial bricks are still available to be placed in the Middleboro Veterans Memorial Park. If ordered in the near future, bricks would be in place for Veterans Day.  Brick applications may be obtained by calling Paul Kreitzberg at 508-965-9549.(Published Sept. 20, 2018)