Gravesite of Lt (jg) Thomas E Zellars -Namesake of USS Zellars D
Grantville native Thomas E Zellars (1898-1924) graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1920 and reported for duty aboard the USS Mississippi. As turret commander he rose to the rank of lieutenant. In 1924, an explosion and fire engulfed his turret. Zellars and 47 others were killed but not before he opened a flood valve on the burning powder train - an act that saved the ship and its crew. In 1944 Naval Destroyer USS Zellars DD777 was launched in Zellars honor. It went on to serve in both WWII and the Korean War receiving five battle stars. The ship was decommissioned in 1971.
Marker is on Griffin Street west of Grantville Brown School Drive, on the right when traveling south.
Courtesy hmdb.org
