This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Deborah Weeks-Family
to remember
Weeks, Grady, CDR.
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Contact Info
Home Town Riverside, CA
Date of Passing May 19, 1966
Location of Interment Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery (VA) - San Diego, California
Commander Weeks and his RIO, LTJG Ralph R. Carter were killed in and accident while attempting a night landing aboart the USS Constellation, CVA-64. The Connie was near Hawaii at the time, conducting training exercises while on the way to WestPac. Their remains were not recovered.
Jim Thompson, AC-3, US Navy Veteran, Together We Served Researcher and Shipmate
VA-42 was established on September 1, 1950 the squadron was designated Fighter Squadron 42 (VF-42). The unit was redesignated (VA-42) on November 1, 1953 the squadron designation remained the same until it was disestablished on September 30, 1994.
Green Pawn" nickname
The insignia for VA-42, the "Green Pawn", was originally approved by the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) for Bombing and Fighting Squadron 75 (VBF-75) on October 28, 1946. When VBF-75 was redesignated VF-4B on November 15, 1946, the insignia was carried over for use by Fighting Squadron 4B (VF-4B).
On September 1, 1948 VF-4B was redesignated Fighting Squadron 42 (VF-42). This squadron continued to use the Green Pawn insignia until it was disestablished on June 8, 1950. When a new Fighting Squadron 42 (VF-42) was established on September 1, 1950 they adopted the Green Pawn insignia that had been used by the former VF-42. In 1953 the insignia was carried over to VA-42 following its redesignation from VF-42.
The Green Pawn insignia is a simple, uncluttered and highly recognizable design. The symbol of the pawn was chosen because it has the most potential power of any piece on the chess board. The pawn is canted at a 45 degree angle inside a shield design. It is also said that the aircrews said they were called the Green Pawns for two reasons: it was the Fleet Replacement Squadron (Responsible for training new aircrew and aircraft maintainers; thereby, they were green, or new); and their squadron was a pawn which could be pushed around by the fleet and the senior commands.
Colors are as follows: green pawn; background of the shield is white outlined in green; and the scroll is white outlined in green with green lettering.
