William H. Connerat – Colonel, United States Army Georgia State Flag

From a contemporary press report

William H. Connerat, a retired Army colonel whose posts included director of material readiness at Army Materiel Command, died of cancer January 1, 1999 at a hospital in Nassawadox, Virginia. A former Alexandria and Annapolis resident, he had lived in Townsend, Virginia, for the last 10 years.

Colonel Connerat, a native of Savannah, Georgia, and graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology, served 22 years in the Army, beginning in 1940 as an ordnance supply officer. During World War II, he became acting ordnance officer on the staff of the Commanding General of the Allied Forces in North Africa and the Mediterranean.

His post-World War II assignments in Europe included chief of surplus property disposal and chief of the civil branch in the office of deputy chief of staff for logistics. He also held a supervisory position in the ordnance office and supply control agency.

Following his military retirement in 1962, he worked as a research consultant for Research Analysis Corporation and General Research Corporation., both in McLean.

His marriage to Helen G. Connerat, ended in divorce. His second wife, Lenora Connerat, died in 1964.

Survivors include his wife, Sarah B. “Sally” Connerat of Townsend; two children from his first marriage, Virginia Connerat of Savannah, Georgia, and William Henry Connerat IV of Waycross, Georgia; three children from his second marriage, Carter Magruder Connerat of Grayson, Georgia, Lee Connerat Cohan of Laguna Niguel, California, and Carolyn Connerat Mooradian of Royalston, Massachusetts; and eight grandchildren.

CONNERAT, WILLIAM H. USA (Ret.) (Age 87)

On January 1, 1999. Born March 20, 1911 in Savannah, Georgia, he was a graduate of Savannah High School and the Georgia Institute of Technology in Mechanical Engineering. He joined the Ordinance Office of the U.S. Army in October 1940 and served in the Mediterranean Theatre.

He was decorated with the Legion of Merit for his outstanding performance of duties from January 1943 in North Africa, England andItaly. He retired from the Army in 1962 and worked as a consultant with Research Analysis Corporation and General Research Corporation of McLean, VA until his retirement in 1975. After his retirement from the military, he lived in Alexandria, Virginia, Annapolis, Maryland, Marco Island, Florida and Townsend, Virginia. He is survived by his wife, Sarah B. Connerat; five children from a previous marriage, Virginia Connerat (J. Robert) Logan, of Savannah, GA, William Henry Connerat, IV, of Waycross, GA, Carter Magruder Connerat, of Grayson, GA, Lee Connerat Cohan of Laguna Niguel, CA, Carolyn Connerat Mooradian of Royalston, MA and eight grandchildren. Memorial service Tuesday, January 19 at 9 a.m. at Ft. Myer Old Post Chapel. Interment Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, Eastern Shore Unit, 1138 Parsons Rd., Salisbury, Maryland 21803, 800-227-2345 or a charity of your choice.

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard