SAMUEL B. THOMAS, LCDR, USN
Samuel Thomas '99
Lucky Bag
From the 1899 Lucky Bag:
Thomas, Samuel Brown
"Hooker"
Plebe Four Stripes. Second Class Buzzard (2). Three Stripes (2'). Silver Medal, Small Arms (2).
Thomas, Samuel Brown
"Hooker"
Plebe Four Stripes. Second Class Buzzard (2). Three Stripes (2'). Silver Medal, Small Arms (2).
Loss
Samuel died of pneumonia on February 9, 1912, in Los Angeles, California. He had married his wife a few hours before.
From Find A Grave:
AT DEATH'S ALTAR
Bride Kneels in Grief Where She Was to Have Stood in Happiness
Commander Thomas's Funeral
The funeral of Lieutenant-Commander Samuel Brown Thomas, U.S.N., who died two days after his bedside marriage to Miss Grace Mellus, was held Monday morning at St. John's Church, where it had been planned that the wedding should have taken place.
Garbed in deepest mourning the bride of death knelt tenderly before the altar of sorrow, where she was to have stood in life's happiest hour. The beautiful two-day bride-widow bravely bore up during the simple but impressive services and thoughtfully attended to her mother, Mrs. J.J. Mellus, who has been in a state of prostration since her gallant son-in-law's death.
The six officers from the Pacific fleet, who were to have attended the marriage of the lieutenant-commander, served yesterday as a naval escort. They are Commanders Hall and Culp, and Lieuts. Grosse, Macleary, Newton and Mayfield. The army and navy honorary pallbearers were: Lieut.-Gen. Adna R. Chaffee, Admiral Royal R. Ingersoll, Gen. J. P. Storey, Gen. George H. Burton, Maj. E. F. C. Klokke and Capt. Randolph H. Miner.
The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Lewis G. Morris, rector of the church. One week ago he rehearsed the marriage ceremony with the then happy bride and bridegroom-to-be. The floral tributes were magnificent. Only close friends and relatives were present.
The body was placed in a vault at Rosedale Cemetery, where it will rest until the arrival in New York of Mrs. Charles M. Thomas, the mother. Accompanied by Mrs. Thomas, the widow, and a member of her family, and an officer designated by the Navy Department, the body will be taken East to be buried beside the father, Admiral Charles M. Thomas.
It is expected that Lieutenant-Commander Yarnell, who married a sister of the deceased officer, and who is in Cuban waters, will arrive in Washington in time for the burial. Mrs. Yarnell lives in Newport, R.I., which is the Thomas family home. Mrs. Thomas, the mother, is expected to arrive in New York from Nice the 25th inst.
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Samuel won the silver marksmanship medal for target practice at small arms in November 1898.
Memorial Hall Error
Samuel's loss was not an operational and he should not be included 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.
