World War II Honoree

Clarence H. Fondong

Branch of Service

U.S. Merchant Marine

Hometown

Lawrenceburg, Indiana

Honored By

Laura Nadine Fondong

Relationship

Wife

HE COMPLETED HIS BASIC MILITARY TRAINING AT THE HOFFMAN ISLAND MERCHANT MARINE TRAINING STATION, STATEN ISLAND, NEW YORK. ALSO FURTHER TRAINING ON A STEAM SHIP WHERE HE WAS TRAINED AS A FIREMAN/WATER TENDER AND OILER IN THE ENGINE ROOM. LATER HE APPLIED FOR AN OFFICER POSITION AND WAS SELECTED TO ATTEND OFFICERS CANDIDATE SCHOOL AT THE ALAMEDA NAVAL AIR STATION, ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA. HE EVENTUALLY OBTAINED THE POSITION OF SECOND ASSISTANT ENGINEER IN THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT. WHILE SERVING ABOARD THE TANKER, SS MOBILE IN THE CARIBBEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS IT WAS TORPEDOED AND SUNK BY A GERMAN SUBMARINE. HE DRIFTED ALONG WITH HIS CREW IN LIFEBOATS FOR 3 DAYS BEFORE BEING RESCUED BY A U.S. NAVAL SUB-CHASER. AFTER BEING DEPLOYED TO THE SOUTH PACIFIC, HE SERVED ABOARD A TROOP SHIP AND PARTICIPATED IN THE GUADALCANAL INVASION, OFFLOADING MARINES AND SEABEES ONTO THE BEACHHEAD. ENTER THE SERVICE APRIL 15, 1941 AND HONORABLY DISCHARGED OCTOBER 14, 1945.