Their Story
Remembering Kyle D. Philbert James.
MIDN 2/C Kyle D. Philbert James was a third-year midshipman at the United States Naval Academy, Class of 2027, and a member of the 36th Company. He grew up in Whippany, New Jersey, and graduated from Whippany Park High School in 2023.
At Whippany Park, Kyle was known for a steady, positive spirit that lifted the people around him. He served as captain of both the varsity cross-country and track teams, and he was a section leader in the school's marching band, balancing the discipline of distance running with the precision of music.
During his junior year he was inducted into the National Honor Society and was selected to attend Boys State, where he was recognized for leadership, character, and a commitment to community that carried him to Annapolis.
At the Naval Academy, Kyle majored in history and sang with the USNA Gospel Choir, carrying the same steadiness into his company that his high school teammates and bandmates had come to rely on. His appointment to the Academy's Class of 2027 was a milestone his hometown watched with pride.
Kyle died on October 10, 2025, at 20 years old. The Naval Academy called it painful to lose "a member of our Naval Academy family," and extended its condolences to his classmates and company mates.