Ssgt Samuel Stout Connelly

Service Above All
In Loving Memory
Staff Sgt Samuel Stout Connelly
301 Ord Reg 1st Bat Hdqs Co
Buried at Sea

Samuel's name is also inscribed on the World War II East Coast Memorial in New York City.
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Sgt. Sam Connelly Dies While At Sea - Sgt. Sam Stout Connelly, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Fleetwood Connelly, Springfield, died at sea on Dec. 14, 1942, according to word received from the war department yesterday. The telegram did not state whether death resulted from natural causes or from war action.

Mr. Connelly was born in Springfield Feb. 12, 1920. He was graduated from Springfield High school and Springfield Junior college, and before entering the army was employed at the Sangamo Electric Co. He was a member of the First Presbyterian church.

He enlisted in the army on April 27, 1942, and served in an ordnance regiment. Last November he and Miss Eleanor Funkhouser, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Funkhouser, were married in St.Louis. At that time he was in training at Camp McCoy, Sparta, Wis.

Surviving are his parents; wife, Eleanor; one sister, Mrs. Norman Jones, Chicago; and one brother, Jack Connelly, stationed with the U. S. air force at Arcadia, Fla. ~Illinois State Journal, Springfield, IL, 1-13-1943
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Memorial services for Sgt. Sam Stout Connelly, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Fleetwood Connelly, and husband of the former Miss Eleanor Funkhouser, will be held today at the First Presbyterian church. Sergeant Connelly died at sea Dec. 14. Details of the manner of death are still unknown to members of the family. ~Illinois State Journal, Springfield, IL, 1-16-1943
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Mrs. Eleanor Connelly yesterday received word from Lt. Col. A. P. Baston telling of the death of her husband, Sgt. Sam Stout Connelly, who died at sea Dec. 13. The letter from Sergeant Connell's commanding officer dated Dec. 15, 1942, said [paraphrasing] Sgt. Connelly had been bunked below deck when 131 of them collapsed in a very rough sea. He was killed at that time. He was buried at sea with full military honors on Dec. 14. The Lt. Col. assured Mrs. Connelly that his death was just as much in line of duty as though he had been killed on the field of battle. The flag in which Sam's body was draped was to be forwarded to her by the Navy. After many reassuring and comforting words, Lt. Col. Baston stated, "There is nothing more that I can say except that he met a soldier's death." - IL State Journal, Springfield, IL, 1-19-1943* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Dec 2 2022, 2:00:00 UTC