Uldric Earl Conerly (b. 1907 – d. 2001)

My paternal grandfather, Uldric Earl Conerly was born in Pike County, Mississippi on January 10, 1907. His father, Thomas Byron Conerly married his first wife, Nettie Frances McDaniel however, she died in 1901. Thomas Conerly then married Uldric Earl’s mother, Arie Varnado Conerly. She was born in 1878 in Pike County Mississippi and passed away in 1919, when Uldric Earl was about 12 years old. He came from what would be considered a large family today, with about10 other siblings and half-siblings. He also came from a family that undoubtedly believed in duty to one’s country and sacrifice.

An example of this was Uldric Earl’s brother Claude Iddo Conerly. He was born on November 6, 1893 to Thomas Byron Conerly and Thomas’s second wife Arie C. Varnado Conerly. According to newspaper reports, he was a volunteer for WWI from Louisiana and was sent to Camp Beauregard, Louisiana for training. Sometime later he was ordered to the European Theater but died at Camp Beauregard on July 1, 1918. While I cannot locate an actual cause of death, it is quit probably he died from disease. The influenza epidemic, pneumonia, meningitis, as well as many other serious diseases were rampant in over crowed tent camps as the United States was rapidly building up forces for WWI. In fact, during 1918 the mortality percentage at Camp Beauregard for pneumonia alone was reported to be 30 per cent during one epidemic!

Another example of this, Uldric Earl’s paternal grandfather was Jabez (Jabe) Newton Conerly who was born in 1847 and lived in Mississippi and Louisiana for much of his life. As was often the case in the American Civil War, he joined the Confederacy when he was very young, a teenager. He belonged to the 3rd Regiment, Mississippi Cavalry. This unit joined Confederate service in April, 1864 and fought until the end of the war. “Jabe” was murdered in 1898, shot in the back of the head. Newspapers allude to “that trouble in Kentwood” (Louisiana) but doesn’t elaborate (see Jabez Conerly biography). At that time and area of the country there was much civil and racial unrest and this may be what the story was alluding to. Either way, while Uldric Earl never met his grandfather, its certain he grew up hearing many tails about him.

While I can find no record of Uldric Earl’s father and my great grandfather, Thomas Byron Conerly, actually serving in the military, it is possible. In 1898, when Thomas Byron Conerly was about 24 years old, The United States and Spain fought what is known as the Spanish-American War. This war was over quickly, and I have found nothing to indicate Thomas Byron fought there. I did find Thomas Byron Conerly’s WWI US Army Draft Registration card. He signed up on September 12, 1918, as most American males did. However, this was the third call-up and all males between 18 and 45 (that hadn’t already signed up) were required to register. Thomas Byron was about 44 years old by this time though, and there was not too much time left before the war was over, so I don’t know if he actually served, especially at his age.

Regardless of his ancestor’s military service past, Uldric Earl belonged to a family, as described to me as “of meager means”. With his family history and with many siblings and no mother, it was no wonder Uldric Earl looked for the first opportunity to step out into the world. That outing would be the US Army, although he almost didn’t make it.

As he described to me (and documented in an old issue of the Ft. Bragg newspaper “Paraglide”) he decided to go into the military because they gave him three meals a day, a place to sleep, and shoes! He went to the recruiter and was weighed in. He just barely missed the weight requirement, which was pretty low then. The recruiter took pity on him and gave him enough money to buy a bunch of bananas. The recruiter told him to buy the bananas and eat them the next morning, all of them, just before he came back to be reweighed. Uldric Earl did just that and made it into the army, barely.

After a short and rocky start, including a short stint in the stockade, he decided to make it a career. He went into the Army in 1924 at age 17 and stayed 30 years, retiring in 1954. He served in WWII and Korea. Uldric Earl started out as a private and worked his way up through the enlisted ranks to a Master Sergeant. He then went to OCS (Officer Candidate School) and became an officer, working in the Field Artillery, Port Operations in Saipan, the Military Police Corp. and graves registration, among other assignments. While in the army he earned numerous awards and medals, to include the Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal, and WWII service ribbon. Uldric Earl retired as a Major.

Uldric Earl’s only wife was Hazel Louise Atkins Conerly, of Bladen County, NC. She was born May 11, 1911 and preceded him in death on March 15, 2000. She died of complications from Alzheimer’s disease. They were married on March 22, 1930. They had three children, Wallace Jack Conerly, Bobby Byron Conerly, and Patricia Ann Conerly. Although Uldric Earl and his family could be described today as “military brats”, living throughout the world, they settled at his last duty assignment, Ft. Bragg in Fayetteville, NC. Known addresses they lived at were 404 Holt Street, Fayetteville, NC (which doesn’t exist anymore) and 817 Edenwood Drive, Fayetteville, NC. They built the Edenwood Drive home in 1963.

In reflection, I believe my grandmother Hazel was probably the epitome of “The Army Wife”. She was obviously very supportive of her husband and his career. Her hobbies included gardening and painting. I have a few pictures she painted and photographs of other paintings she did that were given away to other relatives.

Uldric Earl Conerly was sometimes remembered, at least by me, as a very strict, hard, and stoic person. At least this was a common first impression, and I believe a description of myself. That’s probably why he, my father, and I could relate better to our sons than our daughters. I often wondered was that because of his military career? Probably some, but some of it is just a personality trait many Conerly men have.

Upon his death, I did look back and remember many things that reminded me of his softer side. When I was little, a favorite time was Sunday afternoons, when he and my grandmother Hazel would visit. He would take my brothers and me to “Tucker’s store”, a neighborhood store. He would take us inside and buy us pretty much whatever we wanted. I think it put as big a smile on his heart, as it did our faces. I do the same now with my grandchildren. I guess not to be outdone, our grandmother would always cup our hands when they left and slip money into it. Grandparents love to spoil their grandchildren!

His son and my father, Bobby Byron Conerly, passed away on Wednesday, October 17, 2001. By then Uldric Earl was living in the VA rest home in Fayetteville, NC. His oldest child, Wallace Jack, had passed away in 1993, so his only surviving child Patricia, said she and Uldric Earl's doctor told him of my father’s passing. They told him on Thursday, October 18, 2001. His only response was, “I’m sorry to hear that, I’d been praying for him”. He then went to sleep and I guess decided not to wake up.

We buried my father on Friday, October 19, 2001. When I returned home with my mother, my Aunt Pat (Patricia) had left a message saying to come to Fayetteville, that my grandfather wasn’t expected to make it through the night. He had apparently decided it was “time to go” when he went to sleep Thursday and went into what was described as a coma. My older brother and I went to the Ft. Bragg hospital, called Womack Army hospital, where my grandfather had been transferred. He wasn’t awake and never did come out of his “coma”, but I swear I saw a faint smile on his face a few times when we reminded him of “Tucker’s store”. We held his hands until he passed away Saturday morning, October 20, 2001. It was also fitting that he passed away in a military hospital, and is buried beside his wife in Lafayette Memorial Gardens across the street from the Fayetteville VA hospital.

To me, as Uldric Earl Conerly’s grandson, his life could be summed up in a very few words; Duty, Honor, and Sacrifice. He truly was a member of “The Greatest Generation”.

Uldric Conerly (1907)