James Brazier Booe

December 28, 1941

James Booe Is "Missing" After Hawaii Attack

Bandmaster JAMES E. BOOE of the U.S. Navy is reported to be among the missing after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, according to a communication received here Monday by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Z. E. Booe. Mr. Booe is the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Booe.

Mr. Booe has been in the Navy since 1919, and has spent most of this period on the west coast of the United States. His home is at Long Beach. California, here his wife and two children reside.

Mr. Booe has many friends who are hopeful for his safety.

February 19, 1942

JAMES B. BOOE AMONG MISSING
AT PEARL HARBOR

Mrs. Leverta Booe, wife of JAMES BOOE has been officially notified by Chief of the Bureau of Navigation U. S. Navy that her husband lost his life in the service of his country as of December 7th 1941.

"Jim" Booe as he was known in Flagler County was the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Zeb E. Booe of Bunnell.

Mr. Booe accompanied his parents to Flagler County in 1913, moving here from Indiana. He spent several of his boyhood years in Flagler County and joined the U. S. Navy in 1919, receiving several promotions during his service and ranking as Bandmaster during later years in service.

The following telegram dated February 13, 1942, 4:30 p.m. Washington, D. C. was received the same day at 6:30 p.m. by Leverta Booe at her home, 2141 Monitor Ave., Long Beach, Calif:

"After exhaustive search it has been found impossible to locate your husband, James Brazier Booe, Band Master, U. S. Navy and he has therefore been officially declared to have lost his life in the service' of his country as of December 7th, 1941. The' Department expresses to you its sincerest sympathy."
Signed; Rear Admiral Randall Jacobs,
Chief of the Bureau of Naval Investigation

In Sincere Appreciation:

During the many days and weeks of painful vigil since December 7th, 1941, in prayer and hope for the safety of our dear son, James Brazier Booe, we received so many telegrams, flowers and spoken words of sympathy, we feel a very deep sense of gratitude to all those friends and hereby extend our sincere appreciation and thanks.
Zeb E. Booe and Ida M. Booe, and Family

June 11, 1942

The Following letter was read to the Board and ordered spread upon the minutes as follows:

Bunnell, Florida,
May 30th, 1942

To the Honorable Board of
Flagler County Commissioners
Bunnell, Florida.

Dear Sirs:

Today, May 30th, 1942 is another anniversary of National Memorial Day to pay tribute to all who have sacrificed their lives for our liberty and to reverently and tenderly place upon their graves the choicest of flowers and the sacred emblem of our liberties, The Star Spangled Banner, our glorious flag.

Today we can not pay that tribute to our very dear son, JAMES BRAZIER BOOE, at his grave in the bloody waters of Pearl Harbor, but today we unfurled that same symbol of liberty which for more than twenty one and a half years, he played daily, at sunrise and sunset he played honors, The Star Spangled Banner, and by that flag today as our grief gushed out through our tears, we placed our flowers.

We raised and in the early Spring of 1903 transplanted the cedar tree which now stands in the concrete circle in the Court House yard opposite the flag pole to be a Christmas Tree for the Children of Flagler County and hope that it may continue to he used for that purpose.

We wish at this time, with your approval, to hereby dedicate that evergreen tree as a living memory of our dear son, JAMES BRAZIER BOOE, Bandmaster on the U. S. S. Oklahoma when he lost his life while at his post of duty, December 7, 1942.

Very respectfully yours,

Ida M. Booe
Z. E. Booe

By motion duly made, seconded and unanimously carried, the Dedication of the evergreen tree in the front yard of the Courthouse is hereby approved.

December 3, 1942

JAMES BRAZIER BOOE (cutline to photo)

Yes, we remember Pearl Harbor!

This in memory of our dear son, James Brazier Booe, Bandmaster U.S.S. Oklahoma, went down with the ship at his battle station December 7, 1941, after twenty-two and a half years naval service with a perfectly clean record and various "Commendations for constant, long-continued and outstanding excellence in performance of duty." Peace unto his soul and may he have God's blessing is our prayer.

ZEB E. and IDA M. BOOE.

July 22, 1943

PURPLE HEART IS AWARDED, POSTHUMOUSLY

The Purple Heart decoration has been awarded posthumously to JAMES B. BOOE, who lost his life aboard the Oklahoma at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, his father here, Z E. Booe, said today.

The decoration and citation were sent to Mrs. James Booe who lives in California, she receiving them July 14 from Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox.

Mr. Booe was a bandmaster and had been in the Navy for about 20 years prior to his death. He and his wife and his children visited his parents here a number of times and were well known to the people of Bunnell.

November 4, 1943

LEGION TO GIVE SPECIAL AWARDS

As a part of its observance of Armistice Day on November 11, the local post of the American Legion will award to Mr. and Mrs. Z. E. BOOE and to Mr. and Mrs. L. M. McCraney the American Legion Gold Star Citation in honor of their sons who died in action in World War Two.

A Silver Star Citation, awarded for wounds received in action, will be presented also to Brady Wadsworth, former Marine who is now a member of the post after being discharged from the service after being wounded in the first Marine engagements on Guadalcanal.

The public is cordially invited to attend this special meeting of the post, M. B. Fuller, commander said today. He added that "the post wishes to honor the dead and living of this war as well as the last on this Armistice Day."

The meeting will be held at eight o'clock in the evening in the community building.