World War II Honoree

Merl Eugene Clark

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Mattoon, Illinois

Honored By

Debra Clark Mills & Daniel Clark

Relationship

children

SERVED WITH THE U.S. NAVY ON THE USS BOISE WHICH RECEIVED 13 BATTLE STAR CITATIONS. THE USS BOISE WAS PART OF THE PACIFIC FLEET AND DURING HIS TENURE WITH THE SHIP, HE PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE OF CAPE ESPERANCE (SUNK 4 SHIPS), THE BATTLE OF GUADALCANAL, THE LONE TOKYO RAID, THE BATTLE OF SURIGAO STRAIT AND THE BATTLE OF LEYTE GULF. HE WAS ABOARD THE USS BOISE DURING THE LINGAYEN GULF LANDING (PHILIPPINE ISLANDS) WITH GENERAL MACARTHUR ABOARD. HE RECEIVED LETTERS OF COMMENDATION FOR CITING THE ENEMY AS A GUNNER ON THE BOISE AND ANOTHER FOR ATTACHING A COAXIAL CABLE ON THE ENEMY’S SUBMARINE. OVERSEAS PORTS OF CALL INCLUDED: SICILY, GIBRALTAR, NEW GUINEA, PORTUGAL, PANAMA, MOST MAJOR PACIFIC ISLES, SIDNEY, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN, NEW ZEALAND, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, WEST INDIES, BOMBAY, INDIA, COLOMBO, CEYLON, BRUNEI BAY, BORNEO; ATHENS, GREECE; KOREA; NAPLES, ITALY; ALGIERS, ALGERIA, PLYMOUTH, ENGLAND AND CANINES, FRANCE. HE PARTICIPATED IN TWO FLEET CAMPAIGNS AND WAS IN TORINO THE DAY THAT SICILY SURRENDERED AND TOOK 700 COMMANDOS AS PRISONERS.