World War II Honoree

Don Clapsaddle

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Collinsville, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER ABOARD THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS FRANKLIN (CV-13). AFTER DEPARTING BREMERTON, WASHINGTON ON FEBRUARY 2, 1945, HIS SHIP SAILED TO STRIKE THE JAPANESE HOMELAND IN PREPARATION FOR THE INVASIONS OF IWO JIMA AND OKINAWA. ON MARCH 18, 1945 THE CARRIER BEGAN LAUNCHING STRIKES AGAINST JAPAN FROM SOME 50 MILES OFF THE MAINLAND. ON MARCH 19, 1945, A SINGLE JAPANESE PLANE ATTACKED AND DROPPED 2 BOMBS STRIKING THE FLIGHT DECK, AND PENETRATING THE HANGER DECK WHERE HE WAS WORKING. THE EXPLOSIONS CAUSED WIDESPREAD DESTRUCTION AND STARTED FIRES, WHICH IN TURN, DETONATED ON-BOARD AMMUNITION. THE RESULTING EXPLOSIONS SOON CAUSED THE SHIP TO LAY DEAD IN THE WATER. HE WAS UNABLE TO WALK DUE TO AN INJURED HIP AND HAD DIFFICULTY BREATHING DUE TO A COLLAPSED LUNG. HE CRAWLED TO A PLACE WHERE HE COULD ABANDON SHIP AND THEN JUMPED SOME 90 FEET INTO THE WATER. MANY OF THE CREW WERE BLOWN OVERBOARD OR DRIVEN INTO THE SEA BY THE FIRES AND EXPLOSIONS. HE SPENT ABOUT 6 HOURS ALONE IN THE WATER UNTIL SIGHTING A SHIPMATE IN A RAFT. SOON AFTER MAKING IT TO THE RELATIVE SAFETY OF THE RAFT, THEY WERE TAKEN ABOARD THE DESTROYER USS MARSHALL (DD-676). HE WAS ONE OF ONLY TWO MEN FROM THE HANGER DECK TO SURVIVE; SOME 200 PERISHED. CASUALTIES FROM THE ATTACK TOTALED 724 KILLED IN ACTION AND 265 WOUNDED IN ACTION. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1945 WITH THE RATING OF AVIATION MACHINIST’S MATE SECOND CLASS AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.