World War II Honoree

Elmer L. Clark

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

Relationship

Relationship Not Determined

LEFT COLLEGE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA EARLY, TO ENTER MIITARY SERVICE. TRAINED INITIALLY IN THE AMERICAN THEATER FOR ENTRY-LEVEL ‘BASIC TRAINING’ AND THEN FOR ADVANCED INFANTRY MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY (MOS) QUALIFICATION. STAGED AT FORT DEVENS AT AYER MASSACHUSETTS ON MARCH 2, 1942, AWAITING OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT. SAILED FROM THE SAN FRANCISCO PORT OF EMBARKATION ON APRIL 22, 1942, AND ARRIVED IN AUSTRALIA ON MAY 14, 1942. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER WITH THE 32ND INFANTRY 'RED ARROW' DIVISION DURING THE WAR. PARTICIPATED IN THE NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN. TOOK PART IN OPERATIONS AT THE BATTLE OF THE BUNA-GONA BEACHHEAD BEGINNING ON NOVEMBER 19, 1942. THE DIVISION RETURNED TO AUSTRALIA FROM FEBRUARY 21 - OCTOBER 23, 1943. LANDED ON GOODENOUGH ISLAND, ON THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE TRUST TERRITORY OF NEW GUINEA, ON OCTOBER 28, 1943. THEN, ARRIVED AT SAIDOR ON GOODENOUGH ISLAND ON JANUARY 7, 1944. RETURNED TO THE UNITED STATES IN JULY, 1944. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART FOR WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 1 BRONZE SERVICE STAR (1 CAMPAIGN), AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. ALSO AUTHORIZED THE MERITORIOUS SERVICE UNIT PLAQUE (MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMENDATION) FOR EXCEPTIONALLY MERITORIOUS PERFORMANCE BY HIS DIVISION DURING SUSTAINED MILITARY OPERATIONS AGAINST ENEMY FORCES IN PAPUA FROM 1942-43. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.