World War II Honoree

Lyle N. Clemens

Branch of Service

U.S. Merchant Marine

Hometown

Dubuque, Iowa

JOINED THE U.S. MARITIME SERVICE IN 1942. HE MADE THE D-DAY INVASION AT NORMANDY BEACH IN FRANCE ON AN ARMY TROOP SHIP. ONE SHIP IN HIS GROUP OF 5 WAS SUNK IN THE ENGLISH CHANNEL. GRADUATED FROM OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL IN 1945 AND WAS ASSIGNED AS AN OFFICER ON A SHIP IN SAN FRANCISCO. HE WAS IN PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII, WHEN THE ATOMIC BOMBS WERE DROPPED ON JAPAN. HE WAS ON THE WAY TO THE INVASION OF JAPAN WHEN THE JAPANESE SURRENDERED.