By Nila Harris
Todd Desmond Steele shares more than a name with an uncle he never knew. An uncle who was killed in action in WW2 after his plane was shot down over Germany. When comparing photos of the two men, one can quickly notice the facial similarities. In fact, according to the younger Steele, he was named after his uncle because he looked so much like him at birth. Todd went on to name HIS son after the fallen soldier: Zachary Desmond Steele.
Second Lieutenant Desmond Earl Steele was the oldest of six brothers who served in the military. He served as a co-pilot in the United States Air Force 1941-1944. According to Todd’s brother Troy, a family member located a man from Jacksonville, FL who claimed to be in the plane with Desmond when it crashed. This unknown soldier was thrown from the plane and hid in Germany for two days before being rescued.
Private Wayne A. Steele was another unfortunate casualty of WW2. He served in the US Army 1944-45 and died of pneumonia while in the Philippines. According to nephew Billy Steele, his uncles’ bodies were sent home to Falmouth via train. This writer was not able to determine whether the two soldiers were sent home together or separately, but Troy was told that his uncle Desmond’s body was not recovered until 1950, six years after his death.
Next in line was the third son, Sergeant George Thomas Steele. Tom served in the US Army from 1948-1953, working in the Records Division in Pennsylvania. Tom worked at Kodak after his military service and “was always taking pictures” at family events, stated nephew Troy. He made Rochester, New York his home but frequently came back to Pendleton County to visit his family.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Raymond O. Steele joined the US Navy in 1948 and made a career of it, serving our country for 20 years. He was not only in the Korean War, but also Vietnam. After his military service, Ray made Pendleton County his home, raising his family here. He opened a service station called Ray’s Tire, according to nephew Troy. Troy enjoyed going to the station--located across the street from the car wash on Highway 27 and hanging out with Uncle Ray.
Specialist Third Class Donald Eugene “Pete” Steele was another who made Pendleton County his home after serving in the US Army. Pete spent his military service in New York City working with an early warning radar unit for the city. Pete married a Pendleton County gal, Velma Miller and raised three sons in the Concord community. After the service, he worked for Heekin Can and farmed. According to son Billy, his dad was born and died in the same bedroom in his home.
The baby boy of the family was Specialist Four Floyd E. Steele. Floyd served in Germany and Paris. Although son Troy is unsure of what his dad did in the service, he felt like he had to do some typing. “He could type a 100 words a minute,” informed Troy. Floyd may have done some barbering too, because daughter Tonya Hare has a photo of her father cutting another recruit’s hair. After the service, he opened Floyd’s Barber Shop in Falmouth. Floyd, like his brothers Ray and Pete, made Pendleton County his home, marrying Joyce Hyatt and raising his family here.
The military service did not start nor end with these six Steele brothers. Before their service, the Steele's father Private Garnett E. Steele and his brother James Corbett Steele served in World War 1.
Mark Steele, Floyd’s oldest son, served in the US Coast Guard before moving to Cincinnati and serving as a police officer until retirement.
Logan Steele, Pete’s grandson, is active-duty Navy as a Master of Arms, Petty Officer Second Class. Currently, he is serving as a Military Criminal Investigator at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
Floyd’s grandson Brennan Beighle is also an active-duty sailor. He is getting ready for his fourth deployment in almost four years in the US Navy.
In August 2022, the Pendleton County Fiscal Court held a bridge dedication to the Steele family veterans. Billy Steele stated that it was unusual for a family to be recognized in this manner vs. a single person dedication. Originally, the dedication was supposed to be named for Pete Steele, but Billy said that his father never wanted it to be about him. He would have wanted the whole family to be recognized for their military service. This is one small token our community can do for the service of so many in the Steele family.