World War II Honoree

John T. Clark, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Lancaster, South Carolina

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

HIS UNIT SAILED FROM THE NEW YORK PORT OF EMBARKATION ON DECEMBER 12, 1942 AND ARRIVED IN NORTH AFRICA ON DECEMBER 25, 1942. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH BATTERY B, 34TH FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION, 9TH INFANTRY 'THE VARSITY' DIVISION. HIS BATTALION PARTICIPATED IN THE TUNISIA, SICILY, NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE), AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. LANDED IN SICILY ON JULY 15, 1943, ENGLAND ON NOVEMBER 25, 1943, AND ACROSS UTAH BEACH IN NORMANDY, FRANCE ON JUNE 9, 1944 (D-DAY +3). AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH ‘GERMANY’ CLASP. AUTHORIZED THE PRESIDENTIAL (DISTINGUISHED) UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION BY HIS BATTALION AT THALA TUNISIA. ALSO AUTHORIZED THE BELGIAN FOURRAGERE FOR HIS UNIT BEING CITED TWICE IN THE ORDER OF THE DAY OF THE BELGIAN ARMY FOR ACTIONS AT THE MEUSE RIVER, AND AGAIN IN THE ARDENNES. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF SERGEANT FIRST CLASS AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.