World War II Honoree

Clayton Owen White

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Aberdeen, Washington

Honored By

Dennis Johnston

Relationship

Family Friend

He served in the Civilian Conservation Corps Program. At the outbreak of WWII, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was assigned to coastal watch out of Grays Harbor, Washington. He volunteered for combat duty and was assigned to the 70th Infantry Division, the Trail Blazers, being formed at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. In January 1945, while advancing against German forces near Strasbourg France a mortar shell exploded near him killing one of his companions and seriously wounding him and another GI. He was eventually evacuated to the U.S. and spent a considerable amount of time in recovery.