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PLEASANT VIEW, Weber County — The U.S. Naval Academy on Wednesday identified a Utah enrollee who died on leave as midshipman 1st Class Taylor Connors, a 24-year-old Pleasant View man who died in Philadelphia with his family at his bedside.
"Our Naval Academy community is mourning a tragic loss this week of a life taken far too soon — midshipman Taylor Connors honorably served his nation as a Marine and as a midshipman," Vice Adm. Sean Buck, 63rd Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, said in a statement. "Through the grieving process, I encourage members of the brigade, faculty and staff to reach out and offer support to one another from near and far this summer. My wife, Joanne, and I and the entire Naval Academy community have Taylor's family, friends and fellow Marines and midshipmen in our thoughts during this difficult time."
The academy said the circumstances surrounding his death are currently under investigation but foul play is not suspected.
Upon hearing the news, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox took to Twitter Wednesday to offer his condolences to Connors' family, loved ones, and fellow service members, and said, "We are all profoundly grateful for his service."
Heartbroken to hear about the passing of Midshipman 1st Class Taylor Connors. We are all profoundly grateful for his service.
— Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox (@GovCox) June 8, 2022
Please keep his family, loved ones, and fellow service members in your prayers during this most difficult time.https://t.co/C1xOSGvM8n
Connors began his military journey in his home state of Utah, where he attended the Utah Military Academy, eventually earning the rank of group commander where he was responsible for over 250 cadets. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 2016, achieving the rank of corporal before receiving a Secretary of the Navy nomination for an appointment to the Naval Academy. Connors reported to Annapolis with the class of 2023 in June of 2019.
While at the academy, Connors was a member of the 23rd, 2nd, and 16th companies, a physics major, and was on the jiujitsu team. He was an active member of the Semper Fi Society and competed with his company mates as an intramural sports athlete.
The academy described Connors as a "leader amongst his peers," specifically mentioning his role as a Plebe Summer squad leader, a fundamental leadership role responsible for transitioning newly reported midshipman candidates from civilians to basically trained midshipmen ready to join the brigade.
USNA IDENTIFIES DECEASED MIDSHIPMAN
— U.S. Naval Academy (@NavalAcademy) June 8, 2022
"Our Naval Academy community is mourning a tragic loss this week of a life taken far too soon – Midshipman Taylor Connors honorably served his nation as a Marine and as a midshipman," - VADM Sean Buckhttps://t.co/zX8lByWY5Qpic.twitter.com/IY7TCWFBCd
As a Marine rifleman and an honor graduate of the corporal's course, Connors was assigned to FAST Company Bravo, Marine Corps Security Forces out of Yorktown, Virginia, and was deployed to Bahrain and Rota, Spain.
He was noted for volunteer work with a local school in Bahrain and an animal refuge in Rota, and his chain of command described him as "intelligent, a critical thinker, very thoughtful, physically tough and honest — a blue chip Marine."
"Taylor Connors was the best of us. He was a true mentor and leader among his peers but I know he saw himself as a Marine infantryman first and foremost," Marine Corps Maj. David R. Emison II, the Naval Academy's training officer and a mentor to Connors, said in a statement. "There is something to be said about an ethos like the one he exemplified. Taylor was intensely bright, thoughtful and a man of faith."
