US Navy Chief Carpenter's Mate Eldridge Williamson Boyette was born in Pensacola, Florida on March 18, 1905, the son of General Washington Boyette (1882-1926) and Myrtle Augusta Warren (1888-1939). His father was a native of Pensacola as well and supported his family as a carpenter his whole life. In 1900, he was a laborer but by 1910 was working as a carpenter in a "car shop." He and Myrtle were renting a house at 1805 West Gadsden Street at the time with two children. By 1920, his father was a ship's carpenter and living in Millview. Sadly, his father would pass away prematurely in 1926 leaving his wife a widow with at least five children to raise.
Prior to his father's passing Eldridge had enlisted in the US Navy in 1924 and followed in his father's footsteps as a carpenter's mate. He would serve the next 19 years and was eventually promoted to the rank of Chief. While stationed in Norfolk, Virginia he would meet and marry Miss Edith Mildred Burrill (1912-2000) on July 5, 1933. Two years later they were living in nearby Portsmouth, Virginia and by 1935 they had been transferred to San Diego, California. There, they stayed put until America became involved in WWII.
At this time, Eldridge was transferred to the light cruiser CL-10 USS Concord docked at San Diego. In February 1942, she joined the Pacific fleet and began conducting escort services for convoys. On September 5, 1943, she was assigned the task of carrying the famous aviator and explorer Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd on a tour of the South Pacific.
During this cruise on October 7, 1943, unbeknownst to the crew gasoline fumes began leaking in the aft section of the ship. Before anyone knew what was happening a huge explosion erupted killing 23 sailors plus the ship's executive officer. Some of the men were blown overboard while others were killed instantly from concussion, burns, and fractured skulls. One of those hapless men was Chief Eldridge Boyette of Pensacola. He and his comrades were all buried at sea with honor on October 8, 1943. In the meantime, the ship was repaired and would finish out the war with honors. Back home, his parents and wife were notified of his fate and today, there stands a memorial gravestone in the Union Hill Cemetery in Pensacola.
As for Eldridge's ship, the USS Concord was eventually scrapped but her aft turret that fired the last shot of the war was removed for safe keeping. They plan to preserve the turret but as of 2013 this has not taken place. The Concord's bell is now on display near Monument Square in her namesake town of Concord, Massachusetts. As for his wife, Edith would remarry on June 22, 1945 to James Lester Henley (1907-1984) in Kitsap, Washington.
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