World War II Honoree

Clifton H. Chamberlain, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Marlin, Texas

Honored By

William A. Hamilton, Jr.

HE WAS COMMISSIONED A 2ND LIEUTENANT IN THE ARMY AS PART OF THE TEXAS A&M CLASS OF 1940 AND STATIONED IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS IN 1941. WHEN THE JAPANESE BEGAN WORLD WAR II HE WAS STATIONED AS AN ARTILLERY OFFICER AT FORT DRUM, A SMALL ISLAND FORTRESS IN MANILA BAY, EIGHT MILES SOUTH OF CORREGIDOR ISLAND. KNOWN AS “THE BATTLESHIP”, FORT DRUM ENCOMPASSED THE ENTIRE ISLAND OF EL FRAILE AND WAS BUILT IN THE SHAPE OF A BATTLESHIP 350 FEET LONG AND 144 FEET WIDE WITH WALLS OF CONCRETE UP TO 36 FEET THICK. 'USS DRUM' AS THE SAILORS CALLED IT, BOASTED HEAVY ARMAMENTS INCLUDED FOUR 14-INCH GUNS. HE IS LISTED ON THE ROSTER AT FORT DRUM IN MARCH 1942. WHEN THE COMMANDING GENERAL ON CORREGIDOR ISLAND ORDERED THE SURRENDER OF ALL AMERICAN FORCES, FORT DRUM HELD OUT ONE DAY LONGER AND THEN SURRENDERED. HE WAS TAKEN PRISONER AND INITIALLY BROUGHT TO CORREGIDOR. FROM THERE HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO CAMP CABANATUAN ON LUZON ISLAND, WERE HE SPENT THE NEXT THREE AND A HALF YEARS AS A PRISONER OF WAR. HE WAS LIBERATED ON JANUARY 30, 1945 IN THE FAMOUS US ARMY RANGER 'RAID ON CAMP CABANATUAN' BEHIND ENEMY LINES IN WHICH 511 POW’S WERE SUCCESSFULLY RESCUED. KNOWN AS THE 'GHOST SOLDIERS' BECAUSE OF THEIR DEPLETED CONDITION, HE WAS LISTED ON THE OFFICIAL ROSTER OF THOSE RESCUED. FOR HIS SERVICE HE WAS AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART AND A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, AMONG OTHERS. HE LATER RETIRED AS A COLONEL.