World War II Honoree

Lindley Clements

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Austin, Texas

Honored By

John C. Burkhardt, SVC MOPH, Chapter 1919, Austin, Texas

ENTERED SERVICE AT SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS ON AUGUST 1, 1943. HE RECEIVED HIS BASIC QUARTERMASTER AMPHIBIOUS LANDING CRAFT TRAINING IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE USS THUBAN AKA-19, ON MARCH 6, 1944, AS QUARTERMASTER 2ND CLASS. HIS PRIMARY DUTIES WERE ASSISTING THE NAVIGATOR, STANDING WATCH ON THE BRIDGE AND MANNING THE SHIPS AUXILIARY STEERING ROOM DURING GENERAL QUARTERS. THE QUARTERMASTER ON WATCH WAS REQUIRED TO LOG EVERYTHING THAT OCCURRED ON THEIR WATCH, WHICH AFTER BEING REVIEWED AND SIGNED BY THE CAPTAIN, BECAME THE OFFICIAL LOG OF THE SHIP. WHILE ASSIGNED TO THE USS THUBAN HE SAW HIS FIRST ACTION AT SAIPAN, IN THE MARINAS ISLANDS, ON JUNE 15, 1944. THREE INVASIONS OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS DURING OCTOBER, 1944 THROUGH JANUARY, 1945. HE WAS ALSO INVOLVED IN 'OPERATION DETACHMENT,' THE INVASION OF IWO JIMA, JAPAN ON FEBRUARY 19, 1945, WHICH WAS THE FIRST INVASION EVER CONDUCTED BY A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT ON JAPANESE SOIL. AMONG HIS AWARDS AND CITATIONS ARE THE NAVY OVERSEAS CAMPAIGN SERVICE MEDAL; THE ASIATIC PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL AND FIVE BATTLE STARS. ON DECEMBER 1, 1945, AS HE WAS COMPLETING HIS MILITARY TOUR, HE BOARDED A TROOP TRANSPORT SHIP IN SHANGHAI, CHINA, EN-ROUTE TO PORTLAND, OREGON. HE WAS DISCHARGED FROM THE NAVY ON JANUARY 4, 1946. HE SERVED TWO YEARS, FIVE MONTHS AND FOUR DAYS.