Seaman 2nd Class Charles L. Saunders

October 16, 1923 - December 7, 1941

Sonny Boy’s Journey Home

Charles Louis Saunders (Sonny Boy) lost his life on December 7, 1941, but his miraculous journey to return to Texas has continued.

Sonny Boy was born to Mortimer Alvin and Melina Falke Saunders on October 16, 1923. He was a very caring, kind, and playful child growing up. In fact, his desire to join the navy just one month after his seventeenth birthday on November 23, 1940, exuberates these characteristics. He had a desire to serve his country but an even greater desire to help his family.

Sonny Boy was the sixth child born to his parents and one of four boys. His oldest brother Adam died at just thirteen months of age. His older sisters were Lillie Mae Saunders Franklin, Mary Alice Saunders Frankland, and Sadie Lee Saunders Dailey. His older brother was Sidney (Buddy) Edward Saunders. Born after Sonny Boy was his sister Anna Belle Saunders VonFeldt and brother Mortimer Virgil Saunders.

Times were difficult growing up as Mortimer Alvin (Sonny Boy’s father) worked in construction and in the rice fields to support his family while Melina (Sonny Boy’s mother) raised children.

Sonny Boy’s strong compassion for giving to others is remembered in a story told by his younger sister Anna Belle. He would do without so she could have shoes to make the daily walk to school. He could not bear to see his little sister struggle in any manner.

He was playful with his younger brother (Mortimer Virgil) as he fooled him into believing his belly button was a scar from being shot in the belly with an arrow.

Sonny Boy served as a Seaman, Second Class on the USS Oklahoma at Pearl Harbor on Ford Island in Hawaii. He was one of 429 sailors and marines who were killed when the USS Oklahoma was moored in the December 7 attack by Japanese forces.

There were 390 servicemen, including Sonny Boy, recovered from the ship by divers and salvaging crews as the USS Oklahoma was prepared for righting and was refloated. This salvaging occurred from July 15, 1942 through May 10, 1944. They were initially buried at the Halawa and Nu’uanu Cemetaries. In September 1947, the American Graves Registration Service disinterred the original burial sites and moved the remains to the Schofield Barracks Central Identification Laboratory in efforts to confirm identifications and return these men to their families. Congress and veteran organizations placed a great deal of pressure on the military in 1947 to find a permanent burial site. That permanent burial site was at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific also known as the Punchbowl and the first interment was made on January 4, 1949. The 390 unknown members of the USS Oklahoma were buried in 61 caskets in 45 mass grave locations.

At the time of Sonny Boy’s death his brother Buddy was serving in the army and was stationed at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana. He had enlisted at age 28 in July 1941, just months before Sonny Boy’s death.

Medals and ribbons are awarded to servicemen who give their life during their service. Sonny Boy was awarded a Purple Heart for Military Merit and three ribbons for American Defense, American Campaign, and Asiatic Pacific Campaign.

These awards were almost a lost memory. After the funeral of Melina Falke Saunders (Sonny Boy’s mother) family members were cleaning out the family home preparing items for an auction. Someone happened to open a sewing machine where an old dusty box was found. In the box were Sonny Boy’s awards.

Anna Belle, the last living sibling of Sonny Boy, had a strong passion for bringing her brother home and laying him to rest at the gravesite their parents prepared for him at the Fairview Cemetery in Winnie, Texas. Records indicate Mortimer Alvin (Sonny Boy’s father) ordered Sonny Boy’s headstone on September 30, 1964.

Up until the last day of her life (July 19, 2019), Anna Belle (Sonny Boy’s sister) never lost hope that her brother would be brought back home to Texas. It was written in her obituary that her advocacy to bring her brother home after all these years will be continued by all who survive her.

This passion became reality in 2015 when a niece (Neica Franklin Bertrand) of Sonny Boy’s was contacted by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA). They had tracked her down through her mother’s death records (Lillie Mae Saunders Franklin). In 2015 the DPAA was given authorization to exhume the unknown remains of the servicemen associated with the USS Oklahoma and reexamine them using advanced forensic technology.

It was at that point the military connected with Anna Belle. She worked tirelessly with them by gathering and providing DNA of family members to make a positive identity of Sonny Boy’s remains. She attended the Family Update provided by the DPAA in Denver, Colorado on May 16, 2015, and continued frequent contact as the efforts continued. She always felt a responsibility for Sonny Boy’s death because of his desire to make life better for his parents and younger siblings during their hard times and enlisted to make this happen.

On February 11, 2021, the DPAA notified Sonny Boy’s relatives that the remains of Seaman Second Class Charles Louis Saunders, missing from World War II, had been identified. Laboratory analysis and the totality of circumstantial evidence available identified Sonny Boy’s remains. Scientists used dental and anthropological analysis and mitochondrial and autosomal DNA analysis.

Sonny Boy’s service and death are memorialized in several locations. His name is on the Walls of the Missing at the Punchbowl where a rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate his remains have been identified.

The USS Oklahoma Memorial, dedicated on December 7, 2007, on Ford Island in Pearl Harbor is next to the former birth of the USS Oklahoma. The memorial’s black granite walls suggest the once formidable hull of the ship. Each member has a white marble standard engraved with their name that symbolizes an individual in pristine white dress uniform, inspired from the naval tradition of “manning the rails”.

A granite wall listing the crew on the USS Oklahoma and an anchor from the ship are displayed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma as a tribute to those who perished when the ship capsized.

Sonny Boy’s journey began with a dedication to his family and his country. His family is sure that his service included laughter and adventure and for that we are thankful. It is more than likely he perished while helping others. But most of all we, the many nieces and nephews, of this genuine hero are grateful to welcome him back to Texas on December 7, 2021, eighty years after his death where he will be buried next to his parents.

Sonny Boy’s arrival will be welcomed by many family members and friends. Sonny Boy’s nieces and nephews welcoming him home include the following:

Children of Anna Belle Saunders VonFeldt – Gloria VonFeldt Vierra (represented by her daughter Cindy throughout this process), Barry VonFeldt, Leslie VonFeldt Dunker, Mike VonFeldt, John VonFeldt, Freddie VonFeldt, Kami VonFeldt Ulricksen, and Jeff VonFeldt

Child of Lillie Mae Saunders Franklin – Neica Lynn Franklin Bertrand

Child of Mary Alice Saunders Frankland – Sue Frankland Melancon

Children of Mortimer Virgil Saunders – Jackie Saunders Waller and Karen Saunders Dooley

A Graveside Service with Military Honors for Seaman 2nd Class Charles L. Saunders will be held 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, December 7, 2021, at Fairview Cemetery, Winnie, under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont.

Download Program

Graveside Service with Military Honors

Fairview Cemetery-Winnie
  • 213, Fairview Cemetary Drive, Winnie, Texas, 77665,
  • December 7, 2021
  • 10:30 am

Comments (30)

    Kevin Fontenot says:

    Fair winds and following seas, Sonny Boy
    Rest In Peace in the arms of the Lord…………………………Amen????

    Michael Goldsmith says:

    Welcome home sir.

    Patriot Guard Riders-GT says:

    PGR members from Golden Triangle, Houston, East Texas and Southwest and Central Louisiana were honored to Stand Tall and Silent for this HERO. Praying for the family and may they finally have closure 80 years later. RIP SEAMAN SAUNDERS.

    Johnny r davis says:

    Thank you for your service sir. Also so glad four your family you came home. RIP Sir

    Cathy edwards says:

    So thankful for patriots such as you. Welcome home

    Robert Riley says:

    This man paid the ultimate price for OUR freedom. Welcome home to Texas. May God have mercy on his soul. God’s speed Seaman.

    SEMPER FI

    Sam Walker says:

    Welcome home Sir! Thank you for your service to our great nation. We will certainly seek to uphold and defend the values that your generation fought so hard for in the battlefield. God bless you.

    Jeff Griffith says:

    It’s my honor to have read this story about this extraordinary and wonderful event for a man who is truly a hero. Thank you Sonny Boy for your courage and sacrifice. And thank you to his entire family for their courage and persistence to see his remains properly and honorably returned back to his home and with those of his parents.

    Aaron Veroni says:

    I read Charles story on a news site today and was compelled to leave a message here. On this 80th anniversary, I am happy for the family that Charles is finally back home. Thank you to Charles for making the ultimate sacrifice. You are not forgotten!

    Justin And Phyllis Perry says:

    Thank you for never giving up Saunder’s family. It was an absolute honor to remember “Sonny Boy” 80 years to the date on 7 DEC 2021. A hero is finally home.

    Carolyn King says:

    On this Pearl Harbor Day, may we honor Sonny Boy and all the men who so selfishly went to defend our country and gave the ultimate sacrifice. Sonny Boy sounds like one amazing young man and his family should be proud. May you all find peace in knowing that he is finally home. God Bless.

    Angela Chesnutt says:

    Thank you for your selfless service, Mr. Saunders. Welcome home where you can finally rest in peace.

    Morgan W says:

    Welcome home and rest in peace.

    vanessa sevison says:

    Welcome home and God bless you.

    W Burns says:

    R I P AMERICAN HERO, ????????????????????????
    you and your shipmates are never forgotten

    Ken and Esther Scarborough says:

    Welcome home, sir. Thank you for your service to our great Nation! May God bless the family of this fine young man.

    John Abrams says:

    The Greatest Generation …Thank you Sonny Boy.

    ED and JOANN STUART says:

    Thank You for your service , God rest your soul..

    Paul Banks says:

    As the nephew of a sailor who died on the USS Oklahoma on December 7, 1941 (Coxswain Layton T. Banks), welcome home sailor. A too-long journey, with a final placement at home. I hope to attend the service on the 7th. Bravo Zulu!

    Patsy Pickering says:

    Welcome home Hero. Thank the family members that never gave up on bring you back.

    Jesse Evans says:

    At some point in all of our educational studies, we have all studied, read or heard about Pearl Harbor, but none of us from the the Winnie Stowell area or East Chambers ISD would have ever thought we were reading, studying and testing on someone from our very own community. I am happy that the family now has closure and hopefully , he may Rest In Peace next to his patents. This is a sign in never giving up, no matter the obstacles you are faced with.

    Ellen Cook says:

    A beautiful and fitting tribute. Prayers for your family.

    Gloria Roemer says:

    Thank you, sir, for your service to our great country. You are a true hero. Welcome home.

    Cheryl says:

    Thank you for your ultimate sacrifice. So glad you will be honored.

    Gary and Regina Jones says:

    Our sincere prayers to all his family. He has always been home with the Lord,but this is the families reward for their diligence in never forgetting the price he paid for us. We have an uncle (Eugene Mott) who is still KIA/MIA from WW2. We know your pain and rejoice in Sonny’s homecoming…

    Shirley Stephens says:

    This has made my heart smile! So happy that you are able to bring your loved one home!! May God bless you dearly!!!

    Laura Nelson says:

    Such a fitting tribute for one of our many Veterans who was killed at Pearl Harbor. I’m so glad he was finally identified and brought home. I do hope the same is done for more of our unidentified servicemen. Thank you for your service, Seaman Saunders! May you rest in peace now and forevermore.

    Mazie East says:

    As I read this, I remember a Mr. Saunders who lived in Stowell who had a little grocery store. His son Jaime was a good friend and worked with Donald, my husband. I also knew Virgil, his wife Betty and their children Jackie and Karen. It does my heart good to know their relative will be back home after so many years.

    Roger Dimick says:

    My condolences to the family who have now have at home.

    As a Viet Nam Air Force I praying for your family.

    I will be thinking for you, so close on “Armistice Day”, now Veterans Day.

    Debbie Tanton says:

    My heart is crying after reading this. I’m sending prayers for this hero’s family! There are no words to explain how grateful I am for his and others sacrifice!!! I have been on the USS Arizona memorial in 1971. Ig was the most moving place I have ever been. God bless all of Sonny Boy’s family as they bring their hero home!!!

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