Andrew B. Jakway, Jr.
Andrew Blair Jakway, Jr., known as Blair, of Collingswood, NJ.
Rank: Seaman Second Class, U.S. Navy
Serial Number: 06502275
Ship: USS Barton (DD-599)
Hometown: Collingswood, New Jersey
Died: , Killed in Action, Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
Memorial: Tablets of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines
Awards: Purple Heart
Seaman Second Class Andrew Blair Jakway, Jr. was born November 15, 1924, in New Jersey, to Andrew B. and Elizabeth Jakway. His father was a bread salesman. Known to his friends as Blair, he grew up at 416 Stratford Avenue in Westmont, NJ, attending schools there and was a student at Collingswood High School through the middle of his junior year. The family moved to 1125 Collings Road, Camden, NJ, in late 1941 or early 1942, and Blair Jakway transferred to Camden High School. In February of 1942, he dropped out of high school and enlisted in the Navy on February 22, 1942.
After basic training at Newport, RI, Blair Jakway was assigned to the destroyer USS Barton, joining the ship at Boston, MA, and was striking for radioman.
On August 23, 1942, just before dawn in New York, destroyers USS Barton, USS Meade, and USS Nicholas hove to nearby the battleship USS Washington. The big ship lit off all its boilers at 4 a.m., called away sea and anchor details, and shifted colors at 6:15. The battleship set course 179T at 20 knots, headed for the Panama Canal … and the Pacific Ocean. When the Barton reached the Pacific, she became part of Destroyer Squadron 12.
Seaman Second Class Andrew Blair Jakway Jr. was killed in action on November 13, 1942, during the night naval battle for Guadalcanal, when the USS Barton (DD-599), Lt. Commander Douglas H. Fox commanding, took two torpedoes amidship, broke in two and sank immediately, losing 90 percent of her officers and crew. He was survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Blair Jakway, Sr. of 1125 Collings Road, Camden, NJ, and a sister, Florence, the wife of Lieutenant George Warren, USN. She had worked as the borough clerk for Haddon Township, NJ, prior to the war.
Navy Reports Loss of Camden Seaman
Camden Courier-Post —
Andrew B. Jakway, Jr., Collingswood Student, Missing in Action
As a boy he had an inherent love for the water.
With other youngsters he built and sailed small canoes on Newton lake, Haddon township, where he once lived.
And yesterday, Andrew B. Jakway, Jr., 18, of 1125 Collings road, who enlisted in the Navy right after the Jap attack on Pearl Harbor, was reported missing in action.
The parents, Andrew and Elizabeth Jakway, last received word from their son in September, when he wrote he was on active duty.
Young Jakway was a third year student at Collingswood High school when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He quit school and joined the Navy. He was assigned to active duty in February last year as a seaman second class.
He also has a sister, Mrs. George R. Warren, whose husband is a naval lieutenant. Before her marriage Mrs. Warren was Haddon township borough clerk. The family lived in the township before moving to Camden.
Camden High School Yearbook, June 1943
Blair Jakway was reported missing by the Navy Department in the early fall of 1942. He had been on sea duty stationed somewhere in the Pacific. The baby he is holding in this photograph is his sister’s child. This was the last photo taken of Blair. — Camden High School Yearbook, June 1943
USS Barton (DD-599)
USS Barton (DD-599) in Boston Harbor, Massachusetts, May 29, 1942, the day she was commissioned. Official U.S. Navy Photographs from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Photos NH 97868 and NH 97869.
The first Barton (DD-599) was launched January 31, 1942, by Bethlehem Steel Co., Quincy, Mass.; sponsored by Miss Barbara Dean Barton, granddaughter of Admiral Barton; and commissioned May 29, 1942, Lieutenant Commander D. H. Fox in command.
Barton departed the east coast August 23, 1942, and steamed to the Pacific, arriving at Tongatabu, Tonga Islands, September 14, 1942. During October she participated in the Buin-Faisi-Tonolai raid (October 5) and the Battle of Santa Cruz (October 26). On October 29 she successfully rescued 17 survivors of two downed air transports near Fabre Island.
Against great odds on November 13, Barton, in company with Rear Admiral D. J. Callaghan’s landing support group, took part in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. Barton commenced firing on the Japanese ships at approximately 0148. After launching four torpedoes she had to come to an emergency stop to avoid a collision. While she was practically dead in the water, two enemy torpedoes found their mark. The first torpedo struck her forward fireroom and, a few seconds later, a second torpedo struck her forward engine-room. Within seconds, Barton broke in two and sank, carrying with her an estimated 80 percent of her valiant crew. Forty-two survivors were rescued by Portland (CA-33) and Higgins boats from Guadalcanal.
Barton received four battle stars for her service during October and November 1942.