ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Oct. 13, 2021) The U.S. Naval Academy honors the life of Rear Adm. Earl Preston "Buddy" Yates with a funeral and burial service with full military honors. Yates was the youngest midshipman to ever graduate from the Naval Academy at age 19 with the Class of 1944, who were graduated early to support WWII. Yates, the first commanding officer of USS John F Kennedy (CV 67), died on September 13, 2021 at the age of 97 at his long-time home in Virginia Beach, Virginia. (U.S. Navy photo by Stacy Godfrey)