MCCLELLAN F. STUNKARD, JR., LTCOL, USA
Mcclellan Stunkard, Jr. '34
McClellan Ferguson Stunkard, Jr. was admitted to the Naval Academy from Pennsylvania on June 25, 1930 at age 19 years 4 months.
Photograph
McClellan in the 1936 University of Alabama yearbook. Located by Kathy Franz.
Lucky Bag
McClellan is listed in the 1934 Lucky Bag as leaving during his Youngster (sophomore) year.
Loss
McClellan died of pneumonia on November 22, 1942.
In the December 4, 1942 Bedford Gazette: "Mr. and Mrs. Roy Earley were called to Governor’s Island, New York, last week on account of the death of Mrs. Earley’s nephew, Flight Commander M.F. Stunkard Jr., who was stationed at Lake Charles, La. Death was due to pneumonia."
In the Port Arthur News on Monday, November 23, 1942: "Lt. Col. McClellan F. Stunkard, Jr., 32, of the Lake Charles army flying school, who died Sunday in the post hospital, was buried this morning with full military honors."
This genealogy page confirms a date of death of November 22, 1942, in Louisiana.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Attended University of Alabama and graduated 1936 School of Engineering. A.I.E.E. A.S.M.E.
Received Lieutenant’s Commission in the Officers Reserve Corps. (Bear Bryant in this class)
National Society of Pershing Rifles, Captain
Chi Beta Phi
Vice-President of Senior Class, School of Engineering
As a sophomore – awarded a saber by Scabbard and Blade military organization for being the most outstanding sophomore in military training. He was in Company ‘F’ of the Engineers.
March 30, 1935 – attended Maxwell Field inspection of the airdrome with Pershing Rifles. Stayed in barracks, ate at mess hall and participated in a competitive drill with its regiment.
May/June 1935 – Attended R.O.T.C. Camp at Fort Benning, Georgia, for 6 weeks.
Member of NY State National Guard, 1929, 1931.
At Curtis High School, Staten Island, McClellan played golf in 1928. In 1920 family: father McClellan, mother Marjorie, Robert 10, Monroe 7, McClellan 8. In 1940 Monroe was a truck driver living with his parents.
In 1948 his mother is referenced in a newspaper article: "Mrs. McClellan Stunkard, of Bedford, whose son was killed in the late conflict."
In the Bedford Gazette on May 15, 1947:
Gold Star Mothers Are Honored By Auxiliary
Sixty members attended the memorial service and Mother’s Day program presented at the regular meeting of the American Legion Auxiliary and Junior Auxiliary Tuesday night. … Eight Gold Star Mothers, Mrs. Joseph Allen, … and Mrs. McClellan Stunkard were present and honored; each being presented with a corsage.
In 1937 he graduated the flying cadet program at Randolph Field and Kelly Field, Texas.
On September 30, 1940 he was involved (as a 2LT) in an accident during takeoff while piloting an OA-9; the aircraft crashed into the Hudson River near West Point, New York.
He was engaged to be married in April 1941; he was a 1st Lieutenant in the United States Army Air Corps and a graduate of the University of Alabama. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant earlier that year.
McClellan's older brother, a 1931 graduate of West Point, apparently dropped the family name; his headstone is "Robert Alan." There is no mention in the writeup of his brother.
Other
McClellan's position on the Class of 1934 panel in Memorial Hall suggests he was lost between January 10 and February 8, 1943. The USNA Alumni Association lists his date of death as January 13, 1943.
Rank
McClellan was a Captain as of the January 1, 1942 Official Army Register; by the time of his death he was a Lieutenant Colonel (reported as such without promotion dates in the 1943 edition).
Memorial Hall Error
McClellan was a LTCOL in the US Army Air Corps; Memorial Hall lists him as LT, USN. More significantly, illness is not a criteria for inclusion in Memorial Hall.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
