THE FLAGLER TRIBUNE
Bunnell, Florida
Thursday, December 25, 1941

Bandmaster James B. 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, where his wife and two children reside.

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

THE FLAGLER TRIBUNE
Bunnell, Florida
Thursday, February 19, 1942

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 Navigation

 

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 cards, letters, telegrams, flowers and spoken words of sympathy, we feel a very deep sense of gratitude to all those valued friends and hereby extend our sincere appreciation and thanks.

Zeb E. Booe and Ida M. Booe, and Family

NOTE: CPO Booe was born on 29 Apr 1889 in Veedersburg, Fountain County, Indiana. He was the son of Zeb E. Booe and Ida Mae Coffing.

James moved to St Johns, now Flagler CO, FL with his parents and four bothers in 1913. He enlisted in the Navy, June 4,1919, and went through boot training at Hampton Roads, VA. A story in the June 5, 1919 edition of the Flagler Tribune says " James Booe of Haw Creek, this county, enlisted in the United States Navy at Jacksonville, being rated as a musician, entering the service immediately. James is the youngest son of Zeb E Booe, one of Flagler county's most influential and progressive farmers." He was in Bunnell on 19 days furlough from Hampton Roads on 16 Jun 1921 according to a story in the Flagler Tribune.

He loved music and continued his music study in the Navy; he was assigned to a band unit and sent to the Panama Canal, aboard the USS Birmingham. In 1922 the band was transferred to the USS Cleveland.

In the winter of 1925, he passed the examination for Band Master and began to serve as Ass't Bandmaster for the band stationed at Pensacola. The band was heard over radio station WCOA at Pensacola in May 1926. In Nov 1927 he was transferred from the Pensacola NAS to the USS Wright (airplane tender) in port at Norfolk, VA, in March 1928 he was assigned to the carrier U S S Lexington based at San Pedro, CA.

In March of 1928 he was back home to Bunnell for a visit while his ship, the new USS Lexington, naval plane carrier, was at Pensacola. He was to rejoin his ship after the visit in Bunnell which was expected to sail for the Pacific Coast.

In July 1928 he notified his parents in Bunnell of the Lexington's record breaking run from San Pedro, CA to Honolulu, Hawaii, a distance of 2,544 land miles in 72 1/2 hours, or an average of 35 miles per hour

He was back in Pensacola in 1932 as he was injured in an accident west of the town on Saturday, 5 Mar 1932. He was returing from a trip to AL and about 40 miles west of Pensacola ran into the rear of a parked log truck.

On 24 Nov 1923, in New Orleans, LA, he was married to Leverta LeBlanc (1903-1961), daughter of Joseph Gustave LeBlanc and Regina Allerman. They had three children, Zeb Joseph Booe (1925-1925), James Brazier Booe, Jr., and Betty Jean Booe.

In October 1934 he was promoted to Bandmaster and was serving aboard the USS California at Guantanamo, Cuba.

In Oct 1935 he was the Bandmaster on the USS Saratoga and was selected with his group of musicians to play aboard the crusier USS Houston which was carrying President Roosevelt on his vacation tour. Later he was transferred to the battleship Oklahoma, where Booe was the bandmaster.

At daybreak, December 7, 1941, the band was assembling on the deck of the USS Oklahoma when Japan attacked Peart Harbor. Chief Petty Office Booe went down with his ship.