John Walter (Jack) Bagley Jr.
8-18-1926 (Minneapolis, MN) to 11-12-1989 (Edina, MN)

 The Bronze Star Medal The Purple Heart Medal
During WWII, my step-dad, Jack served in the U. S. Navy aboard several ships. We only know about his service aboard the USS Morris (DD417). We know from him that he crossed the equator 9 Nov 44 aboard the Morris and we know that he was on the Morris during the liberation of the Philippines and the battle of Okinawa circa April 1945. We know that he was awarded The Bronze Star, The Navy Commendation Medal, The Purple Heart, The American Campaign Medal, The Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, The WWII Victory Medal, The Philippine Liberation Medal and The Naval Reserve Medal (10 years service). We do not know how many battle stars he won of the seven awarded to the USS Morris (DD417). The history of the USS Morris (DD417) is HERE The war history of the USS Morris (DD417) is HERE. The Story about the USS Morris' namesake is HERE. The reason for the DD417 designation is that over the years of our nation, the names are used over and over for different US Navy ships in different generations. DD417 refers to a destroyer in WWII, the seventh USS Morris. The USS Morris (DD417) was decommissioned 9 November 1945, but in the future another US Navy ship could very well be named USS Morris with another number designation. Below are seven pictures of the USS Morris (DD417). Click the little pictures to see a bigger picture. Hover your mouse over the pictures for a description.

circa 1940 boston navy yard 3 sep 41 charleston navy yard 5 jan 42
san francisco bay 21 oct 1943 kerama retto okinawa 6 apr 45 with damage from kamikaze hit kerama retto okinawa 6 apr 45 with damage from kamikaze hit
kerama retto okinawa 6 apr 45 with damage from kamikaze hit
Jack's personalized MN license plate
Jack's Medals


Read about the ''Pollywog To Shellback'' initiation ceremony
which takes place on every crossing of the equator, on-board
each US Navy ship and see a copy of Jack's certificate HERE.

The USS Morris (DD417) was the flagship of Destroyer Squadron 2

Destroyer Squadron 2
1 October 1941

USS Morris, DD 417, Flagship

Destroyer Division 3
USS Anderson, DD 411, Flagship
USS Hammann, DD 412
USS Hughes, DD 410
USS Sims, DD 409

Destroyer Division 4
USS Mustin, DD 413, Flagship
USS Russell, DD 414
USS O’Brien, DD 415
USS Walke, DD 416


View Jack's Hole In One HERE.



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