World War II Honoree

William Loveridge Clarke

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Honored By

Emily and Craig Clarke

Relationship

Daughter-in-Law and Son

HE APPLIED TO THE SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM, BOARD #6 IN KENT COUNTY, GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN IN JUNE 1942 TO BE ACCEPTED FOR THE VOLUNTEER OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL. ACCEPTED IN LATE JUNE, HE FIRST SPENT 13 WEEKS, FROM JULY 27, 1942 TO OCTOBER 24, 1942, IN COMPANY D, 86TH INFANTRY TRAINING BATTALION AT CAMP ROBERTS, CALIFORNIA TRAINING AS AN ANTI-TANK GUNNER; HE QUALIFIED AS AN ‘EXPERT’ WHEN HE GRADUATED IN OCTOBER 1942. HE HAD BEEN ACCEPTED FOR INFANTRY OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL IN SEPTEMBER 1942, AND PROCEEDED TO FT BENNING AFTER TRAINING AT CAMP ROBERTS WAS COMPLETED. ON FEBRUARY 13, 1943 HE WAS COMMISSIONED AS A 2ND LIEUTENANT AT FT BENNING, GEORGIA, AND IN MARCH HE WAS ORDERED TO CAMP WOLTERS, TEXAS TO THE INFANTRY REPLACEMENT TRAINING CENTER. HE SERVED AS A PLATOON LEADER FOR THE 53RD BATTALION AT CAMP WOLTERS NEAR MINERAL WELLS, TEXAS FROM FEBRUARY 26, 1943 TO MARCH 19, 1943. IN MARCH HE RECEIVED ORDERS TO GO TO CAMP WHITE IN OREGON TO THE TRAINING CENTER THERE. HE JOINED THE 91ST INFANTRY DIVISION. THE 91ST INFANTRY DIVISION LEFT FOR NORTH AFRICA FROM CAMP PATRICK HENRY IN NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA IN MAY 1943 FOR INTENSIVE INVASION TRAINING. THEY WERE LATER ORDERED FROM NORTH AFRICA TO ITALY WITH THE DIVISION MOVING NORTH TO THE ARNO. DURING JULY OF 1944, ALL CONTACT WAS LOST WITH THE BATTALIONS NEAR CAMPONOLI, ITALY, HE WENT ALONE THROUGH HOSTILE TERRITORY TO RE-ESTABLISH COMMUNICATIONS AND OBTAIN RATIONS AND AMMUNITION FOR FRONT LINE TROOPS. THROUGH THE WINTER OFFENSIVE AS A COUNTER MORTAR OFFICER IN THE ADVANCE ACROSS THE PO VALLEY, HE FURNISHED INFORMATION THAT LED TO THE DESTRUCTION OF MANY ENEMY WEAPONS. DURING THIS CAMPAIGN HE WAS AWARDED A BRONZE STAR WITH V DEVICE FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE IN COMBAT FROM JULY 1944 TO MAY 1945. HE WAS PROMOTED TO 1ST LIEUTENANT ON JULY 25, 1944 AND TO CAPTAIN AUGUST 7, 1945. HE RETURNED TO CAMP PATRICK HENRY, VIRGINIA IN SEPTEMBER 1945, THEN MOVED ON TO FT. RUCKER, ALABAMA FOR A PERIOD OF RECUPERATION. LATER HE WENT TO THE THE SEPARATION CENTER AT CAMP GRANT ILLINOIS, AND WAS RELEASED FROM ACTIVE DUTY ON 30 DECEMBER 1945. HE REMAINED IN THE RESERVES, RETURNED TO ACTIVE DUTY DURING THE KOREAN CONFLICT, RETIRING FROM THE ARMY AS A LIEUTENANT COLONEL. DECORATIONS INCLUDE: BRONZE STAR, AMERICAN THEATER RIBBON, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER RIBBON WITH 3 BRONZE BATTLE STARS, 2 OVERSEAS SERVICE BARS, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL.