World War II Honoree

Leo 'Paul' Clouthier

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Worcester, Massachusetts

Honored By

Dave Evans

Relationship

Family Friend & Unofficial Adopted Son

SERVED AS AN INFANTRYMAN IN THE MASSACHUSETTS ARMY NATIONAL GUARD FROM 1936 TO 1939. JOINED THE U.S. NAVY IN 1939. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO TORPEDO SQUADRON 5 ABOARD THE USS YORKTOWN CV-5. YEOMAN 2ND CLASS. IN THE SUMMER OF 1941 A RECRUITER FOR AN ORGANIZATION BEING FORMED TO GO TO CHINA, TO PROTECT THE BURMA ROAD CAME ON STATION. HE JOINED WHAT WAS OFFICIALLY CALLED THE AMERICAN VOLUNTEER GROUP. THIS GROUP WOULD BECOME THE WORLD FAMOUS FLYING TIGERS. BECAUSE THIS ORGANIZATION WAS A COVERT GOVERNMENT OPERATION, HIS PASSPORT LISTED HIS OCCUPATION AS A MORTICIAN. SERVED UNDER COLONEL CLAIRE LEE CHENNAULT AS AN OPERATIONS CLERK IN THE 3RD SQUADRON, THE HELL'S ANGEL'S. WAS WOUNDED IN THE RIGHT ARM AND LEG BY SHRAPNEL FROM A JAPANESE BOMB ON DECEMBER 25, 1941. THIS WAS THE FAMOUS CHRISTMAS DAY AIR BATTLE IN THE SKIES OVER RANGOON, BURMA. HE QUICKLY RECOVERED AND ASSUMED HIS DUTIES. SERVED WITH THE AMERICAN VOLUNTEER GROUP (AVG) IN RANGOON AND TOUNGOO BURMA, LOIWING, BAOSHAN AND KUNMING, CHINA. WHEN THE AMERICAN VOLUNTEER GROUP DISBANDED ON JULY 4, 1942 HE RECEIVED HIS HONORABLE DISCHARGE. MADE HIS WAY BACK TO THE U.S. AND REJOINED THE U.S. NAVY. HE TRAINED AS AN AVIATION CADET UNTIL HE RECEIVED HIS HONORABLE DISCHARGE IN DECEMBER OF 1945.