Charles Connell

Seaman Second Class

Purple Heart

Killed in Action,  May 3, 1945

Charles was reared on a farm in the rural South and entered the navy in 1944 at 18 right out of high school.  He had one brief leave home, and then departed to the war zone.  Almost exactly a year from his date of enlistment, he was blown from his combat station into the East China Sea on 3 May 1945.  He was never seen again.  He was barely 19.   –Lloyd boles