World War II Honoree

Clyde Earnhardt

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Montgomery, Alabama

Honored By

Clyde Earnhardt

SWORN INTO THE ARMY AT FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA ON MARCH 10, 1939 AT 16 YEARS OF AGE. REMAINED AT FORT BRAGG UNTIL 1942, LEFT TO GO OVERSEAS. IN 1943, HIS UNIT, THE 97TH FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION, LANDED ON GUADALCANAL. AFTER 3 YEARS IN THE PACIFIC, HE WAS SENT BACK TO THE U.S. AND THEN SENT TO WEST POINT MILITARY ACADEMY. AFTER A YEAR, HE WAS DISCHARGED ON THE POINT SYSTEM. HE THEN RE-ENLISTED IN THE ARMY, TOOK PART IN THE OCCUPATION OF GERMANY AND WAS ASSIGNED TO THE SECURITY POLICE. HIS JOB WAS TO SUPERVISE THE SS GERMAN PRISONERS. DURING THE BERLIN AIRLIFT, HIS JOB WAS TO SEE THAT THE GERMAN PRISONERS LOADED PLANES WITH BAGS OF COAL TO BE FLOWN OUT OVER BERLIN. RECEIVED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, NATIONAL DEFENSE MEDAL, BRONZE STAR, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, OCCUPATION MEDAL, AMERICAN THEATER RIBBON AND THE WWII VICTORY RIBBON.