World War II Honoree

L. D. Clark

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Gainesville, Texas

Honored By

Wayne Wall

Relationship

Cousin

ENLISTED AUGUST 8, 1941; DALLAS, TEXAS. REPORTED TO KELLY FIELD, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, WENT TO ELLINGTON FIELD NEAR HOUSTON, TEXAS FOR TRAINING. WAS AT COCHRAN FIELD, MACON, GEORGIA ON DECEMBER 7, 1941. ATTENDED WEATHER FORECASTERS SCHOOL, CHANUTE FIELD, ILLINOIS. WENT TO THE PACIFIC MAY 18, 1943, FLEW AS A WEATHER OBSERVER/FORECASTER/WAIST GUNNER WITH 13TH AIR FORCE OUT OF NEW GEORGIA, SOLOMON ISLANDS IN B-24 AIRCRAFT EQUIPPED WITH EARLY RADAR. FIRST MISSION RECORD WAS NOVEMBER 8, 1943 FROM MUNDA AIR BASE UP THE 'SLOT' TOWARD BOUGAINVILLE, ON 'SNOOPER' MISSIONS TO DISRUPT RE-SUPPLY OF JAPANESE CUTOFF BY OUR ADVANCES. FLEW 20 MISSIONS UP THROUGH MARCH 27, 1944. AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL WITH ONE OAK LEAF CLUSTER. SERVED FROM HAWAII TO NEW CALEDONIA AND NORTH TO OKINAWA. SPENT 2 YEARS 5 MONTHS OVERSEAS. DISCHARGED FEBRUARY 2, 1946 AT FORT SAM HOUSTON, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. ENDING RANK, MASTER SERGEANT.