World War II Honoree

Clyde 'Alabama Rebel' Mouchett

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Millport, Alabama

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

AFTER GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL, HE WAS ACCEPTED INTO THE WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION (WPA) WORK AND TRAINING PROGRAM. THEN SERVED WITH THE CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS (CCC), A U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAM TO PROVIDE TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT. TRAINED AS A TOPOGRAPHIC DRAFTSMAN, HE ESTABLISHED BLUEPRINTS FOR ALIGNMENT OF DRAINAGE CANALS, ROADWAYS AND BRIDGES. HE ALSO HELPED COORDINATE AGREEMENTS TO PASS THROUGH AN OWNER'S LAND IN ORDER TO DRAIN SWAMPS TO CREATE FARMLAND NEAR CLARKSDALE, ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA. ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE IN 1941 AND SERVED WITH THE ARMY AIR FORCES. TRAINED INITIALLY AS AN AIRCRAFT MECHANIC, BUT LATER WORKED IN COMBAT INTELLIGENCE IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER. HIS DUTIES INCLUDED BEING A COURIER, DRAFTING MAPS, AND INVESTIGATING DOWNED ENEMY AIRCRAFT TO GATHER INFORMATION ABOUT TECHNOLOGY, CAPABILITIES AND VULNERABILITIES. AFTER THE END OF HOSTILITIES, HE OUT-PROCESSED PRISONERS FROM THE NAZI CAMPS TO GAIN INFORMATION THAT COULD BE USED AT THE NUREMBERG WAR CRIMES TRIALS. ALSO GATHERED INTELLIGENCE ON THE GERMAN V-1 BUZZ BOMB AND THE V-2 MISSILE. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH ‘GERMANY’ CLASP. ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON. CONTINUED IN U.S. AIR FORCE SERVICE AFTER THE WAR UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT WITH THE RANK OF CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER W4.