I wrote this story in summer 2001 and originally published it in Aviation Review, Vol. 4, No, 2. Sam Korday was a personal friend and WWII veteran from my hometown of Mansfield, Ohio.
Colonel [Sam T.] Korday, 80, of Province Lane, Mansfield, died at his winter home, in Fort Myers, Florida, on January 12, 2001. As his printed obituary in the Mansfield News Journal states, he is “now at home with the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” His death followed a sudden illness.
He was born March 5, 1920, in Mansfield, to Michael and Sophia Korodi. He changed his name later in life to Korday, because, as he related to the editor in a 1997 meeting, it was easier to pronounce.
He graduated from Akron South High School in 1936, and from the Curtis Wright Technical Institute in 1940 with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering.
He went to work for Lockheed Aircraft Company in Los Angeles where he helped develop the P-38 Lightning.
He enlisted for fighter pilot training soon after Pearl Harbor, graduating as a Second Lieutenant flying the P-47.
He was assigned to the 56th Fighter Group of the 8th Air Force at Boxted, Colchester, England. He was part of an air-sea-rescue squadron. He became the squadron leader.
One tale he liked to tell was how he captured a U-boat – being the only one who spoke German present, he commanded the crew to surrender, which they did.
After being honorably discharged from the Army Air Force, he returned to Mansfield to help form the Air National Guard’s 164th squadron based at Mansfield Lahm Airport. This later changed in aircraft to transport (C-130s) and today operates as the 179th Composite Wing.
He was a charter life member of the Air Force Association, as well as being a member of the Confederate Air Force.
After the war, he worked as a draftsman for the Westinghouse Corporation. He later worked with the M. O’Neil Company, being the manager of the appliance retail sales department.
Then he established and operated his own company, Appliance Fair, Inc., from 1964 until his retirement in 1989.
Following his retirement, he and his wife divided their time between Mansfield and Fort Myers, Florida.
For many years he was a member of the Marion Avenue Grace Brethren Church, where he served as member of the board, church treasurer, and Sunday School teacher.
For the past 15 years he attended Berean Baptist Church, in Mansfield, as well as Southwest Baptist Church in Fort Myers, Florida.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years Eleanor Wilging Korday, three children and their spouses, nine grandchildren, two sisters and a brother-in-law, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Paul Korodi, and two sisters Helen Popp and Martha Brunn.
His funeral was held January 17, 2000. He was buried in Mansfield Memorial Park, where the Richland County Joint Veterans Council held graveside honors.
The family donated memorial contributions to Mansfield Christian School and Berean Baptist Church.
Quoting his obituary, printed in the Mansfield News Journal: “He set a challenging moral and spiritual example of integrity and Christian living for his children and grandchildren.”