World War II Honoree

Clarence Eli Nuttle

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Pawnee, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE IN 1944. TRAINED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AT CAMP WALLACE AT HITCHCOCK, TEXAS. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER DURING THE WAR, INCLUDING IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC AREA, ABOARD THE ATTACK TRANSPORT SHIP USS PRESIDENT POLK (AP-103). HIS SHIP WAS USED TO SUPPLY AND REINFORCE PACIFIC BASES DURING THE WAR. THE TRANSPORT SAILED FROM CALIFORNIA TO NEW GUINEA AND ARRIVED AT MILNE BAY ON NOVEMBER 6, 1944 WHERE PASSENGERS AND CARGO WERE UNLOADED. THEN SAILED TO BOUGAINVILLE IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS TO SUPPORT THE INVASION OF LUZON, IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. DISCHARGED TROOPS ON THE LINGAYEN GULF BEACHES ON JANUARY 11, 1945 AND THEN FERRIED REPLACEMENT TROOPS IN FROM LEYTE IN THE PHILIPPINES. AFTER RELOCATING MARINE CORPS FORCES FROM IWO JIMA TO HAWAII, RETURNED TO SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA TO EMBARK TROOPS FOR OKINAWA IN THE RYUKYU ISLANDS ON JULY 24, 1945. HIS SHIP WAS IN APRA HARBOR, GUAM, IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS ON VICTORY OVER JAPAN DAY (V-J DAY) ON SEPTEMBER 2, 1945. THE TRANSPORT SHIP THEN PARTICIPATED IN OPERATION ‘MAGIC CARPET’ AFTER THE END OF HOSTILITIES. THIS WAS THE CODE NAME FOR THE RAPID RETURN OF SERVICE PERSONNEL BY WARSHIPS AND TRANSPORT VESSELS FROM THEATER TO THE U.S.A. AWARDED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1946 WITH THE RATING OF SEAMAN FIRST CLASS AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.