Samuel Rhea Tunnell was born in Missouri on November 4, 1922, the son of Lennie Tunnell. He had one sister, Mary. After the death of his father, Tunnell lived with his mother and sister in Monterey, California, where they managed a camp with Joseph Thomasson. Samuel R. Tunnell enlisted in the United States Navy on December 15, 1941, and attended basic training at the United States Naval Training Station in San Diego, California. On January 18, 1942, he joined the crew of the Keosanqua, which was stationed in Hawaii until late 1943. Tunnell was promoted to carpenter's mate first class during the war. He returned to California after the war, and married Theresa Cho on July 5, 1973.
From the guide to the Samuel Tunnell letters, Tunnell, Samuel letters, 1941-1943, (William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan)
