Howard N. Kay Manuscript on Salty Sam, 1950 (approximate): Finding Aid

Biography of Howard N. Kay

Howard Norman Kay, originally of Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, was born on August 26, 1925, and was a member of the United States Naval Academy Class of 1948-B. A regular contributor to The Log while a midshipman, Kay began his career as a public information officer for the Naval Ordnance Laboratory in White Oak, Maryland before embarking on tours with the Amphibious Training Command, Atlantic and Naval Forces Far East, Tokyo. Duty as the Operations Officer aboard U.S.S. George K. MacKenzie (Destroyer: DD-836) followed, after which Kay commanded U.S.S. PC-1254 (Submarine chaser), and later, Mine Division 111 in Sasebo, Japan. Kay reported as Assistant Officer-in-Charge of the Navy's Journalist School in 1956, and the following year was transferred to Massawa, Ethiopia with a Mobile Training Unit assisting the Ethiopian Navy. Following his duty in Ethiopia, Kay returned to sea as the Commanding Officer of U.S.S. Esteem (Minesweeper: AM-438), after which he assumed command of the Navy and Marine Corps Reserve Training Center, Madison, Wisconsin in 1959. Kay returned to sea once again as Executive Officer, and later Commanding Officer of U.S.S. Johnston (Destroyer: DD-821), before assuming command of U.S.S. Wilhoite (Destroyer escort: DD-397). In 1965, he was attached to the office of Commander-in-Chief, Pacific as Head of the Civil-Military Affairs Section, Southeast Asia, after which he assumed command of U.S.S. Carpenter (Destroyer: DD-825). Service with the Joint Chiefs of Staff preceded his command of the Naval Officer Training Center, later the Naval Education and Training Center in Newport, Rhode Island from 1973 until 1978. Howard N. Kay retired from the U.S. Navy in 1978 and died on January 9, 1997.

Description of Contents

The Howard N. Kay Manuscript on Salty Sam, originally comprising a single loose-leaf typescript, was originally written in or around 1950. The manuscript consists of a series of anecdotes of Naval Academy midshipman life, as told through the perspective of The Log magazine's Salty Sam character.

Included among the manuscript are original illustrations.

The Howard N. Kay Manuscript on Salty Sam is arranged into twelve chapters by topic. Following an introduction to Salty Sam and a discussion of Naval Academy slang, the manuscript proceeds with chapters devoted to topics such as plebe life, life in Bancroft Hall, conduct and discipline, academics, summer training cruises, dating, liberty and holidays, tourists and foreign visitors to the Academy, and the Army-Navy rivalry. The manuscript closes with a chapter of miscellaneous anecdotes that do not fit with any of the previously mentioned categories. Several of the chapters include poems among their anecdotes.

Arrangement

The Howard N. Kay Manuscript on Salty Sam is arranged by chapter as listed in Kay's table of contents.

Access and Use

Access

Access is unrestricted.

Copyright and Permission

The Howard N. Kay Manuscript on Salty Sam is the physical property of Nimitz Library. Copyright belongs to the authors or creators of the works, or their legal representatives. For further information, consult the Head, Special Collections & Archives.

It is the responsibility of the researcher to secure written permission to publish, reprint, or reproduce material from Special Collections & Archives. The researcher assumes responsibility for infringement of copyright or literary or publication rights. Please contact the Head, Special Collections & Archives for permission to publish and for further information.

Acquisition and Appraisal

Provenance and Acquisition

Gift of CDR Sumner K. Moore, USN (Ret.) in May 1997. Accession No. 97-35.

Related Materials

Related Archival Material

Additional material pertaining to Howard N. Kay in this repository include his midshipman personnel jacket (sealed until 2040) and alumni jacket.

Materials Cataloged Separately

No materials have been removed from this collection and cataloged separately.

Publications Citing These Papers

Kay's untitled manuscript was published as Tales of Salty Sam by Gateway Press in 2003.

Processing and Other Information

The Howard N. Kay Manuscript on Salty Sam was foldered by chapter during processing.

Preferred Citation

Howard N. Kay Manuscript on Salty Sam, MS 482

Special Collections & Archives Department

Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy

Selected Bibliography

The following sources were consulted during preparation of the biographical note:

Kay, Howard Norman Alumni Jacket, RG 405, Special Collections & Archives, Nimitz Library.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by David D'Onofrio in March 2019. Finding aid written by David D'Onofrio in March 2019.

Subject Headings

Name and Subject Terms

• Midshipmen -- Conduct of life
• United States Naval Academy -- Caricatures and cartoons
• United States Naval Academy -- Humor
• United States Naval Academy -- Midshipmen -- Cruises
• United States Naval Academy -- Poetry
• United States Naval Academy -- Social life and customs
• United States Naval Academy -- Students
• United States Naval Academy. Class of 1948

Genre Terms

• Manuscripts