Editor's note: Following Westport Middle High School students’ publication last year of “While There’s Still Time: Remembering Westport’s Heroes,” a compilation of local veterans’ stories written by student interviewers, students this year produced a second edition with stories from 20 additional veterans. The stories they wrote will be published here weekly over the summer and into fall.

The two biographies published this week were written posthumously; veterans Stewart Ellis and Kurt Palmer each wanted to participate in the project, but passed away before they could be interviewed in person.

Stewart Ellis

In 1963 Stewart Ellis was 17 years old when he graduated from high school and in order for him to join the United States Navy, he needed his mother's signature. He was sent to the Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Illinois for 9 weeks to learn the military way of life.

After boot camp he was sent to U.S. Fleet Sonar School in Key West, Florida for 7 months. After completing sonar school in October of 1964 he was assigned aboard the USS Hawkins, DD-873 stationed in Newport, Rhode Island. While serving aboard the ship, he made a world cruise to 16 countries. He would say "some ports were great, others not so great." One story he often talked about was when the ship was being piloted through the Panama Canal and ran aground, sending them into dry dock in Long Beach, California to replace the sonar dome.

After his release from active military service he was transferred to the Naval Reserve. He then found employment at the Montaup Electric Company in Somerset, Mass., as a switchboard operator. Today the company is known as National Grid. He was eligible for early retirement, retiring at age 58.

If you are thinking of a military career he would have told you "join while you have no attachments and take advantage of all that military service offers you." He would also tell you "when you see a veteran, thank them for their service and ask them about their story. You might be surprised at what you will learn from them."

Kurt Palmer

(written by Tammy Palmer)

Kurt Palmer, a United States Marine Corps Veteran, proudly served his country from 1988 to 1995.

Kurt joined the Marine Corps because, deep in his heart, he believed he was born to be a Marine. From childhood, earning the title of United States Marine was not simply a dream — it was his purpose and his goal in life.

As a very young boy, his dreams began naturally: to protect others, to earn respect through discipline and hard work, and to challenge himself physically and mentally. He admired courage, strength, and honor, and he was determined to belong to something greater than himself. Above all, Kurt carried a deep desire to help others without ever expecting anything in return. He was, by nature, a protector of those he loved.

Throughout his years in the Corps, Kurt continuously challenged both himself and the Marines around him. From the yellow footprints at Parris Island, through training and education in Tennessee, Florida, and California, to being stationed in Hawaii as a 6142 Helo Structural Mechanic, and later serving in Okinawa, Japan, Kurt left a lasting impact on everyone beside him.

Even today, more than 31 years later, many of his Marine brothers still say:  “No one pushed you harder to become the best version of yourself — to never give up, run faster, study harder, be more disciplined, never back down, and always help someone whenever you could, without ever expecting anything in return.”

After leaving the Corps, Kurt continued to be “that Marine” — the man you could always count on, the one who would help anyone in need without hesitation and never ask for anything back. He remained a protector of his Corps, his country, and the people he loved. He was the kind of man who would lay down his life for another, give away his last penny, and stand beside anyone who needed help.

Kurt Palmer was a man of honor, courage, strength, and selfless devotion to others.

Kurt wanted deeply to be part of this project, but sadly, he passed away on November 2, 2025, before he could be interviewed.

Though he is gone, the impact he made on the lives of others — and the Marine Corps brotherhood he loved so dearly — will live on forever.