World War II Honoree

Clayton E. Elix

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Pueblo, Colorado

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private First Class. Inducted into the United States Army December 30, 1940 at Denver, Colorado. Following his infantry training, he was deployed to the Philippine Islands and based at Fort Mills on Corregidor Island AKA: the Rock. Served in a detachment, an element of the U.S. Army 33rd Quartermaster Corps. His unit participated in the Battle of Corregidor against the Imperial Japanese forces (Battle Dates: May 5-6, 1942). Captured on the second day of the invasion, when his Commander General Wainwright capitulated to the enemy. As a prisoner, he was transferred to the Puerto Princesa Prisoner of War Camp on Palawan Island. The Palawan Massacre took his life on December 14, 1944, with burial in the Prisoner cemetery. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, personnel from an American Graves Registration Company disinterred his remains from the camp cemetery, and were laid to rest in the Manila American Cemetery at Fort William-McKinley, Philippine Islands. The family of this Soldier received his remains for burial, laid to rest at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in Lemay, Missouri on February 14, 1952 with Military Honors. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.