World War II Honoree

Paul T. Clark

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Greenfield, Indiana

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private First Class. Inducted into the United States Army May 29, 1941 at Seattle, Washington. Upon his graduation from boot camp, he was designated to attend the Flight Aviation Training Program. Deployed to the Philippine Islands, following the completion of his communication schooling and stationed at Nichols Airfield, Luzon Island. Served with the 409th Signal Aviation Company a branch of the Far East Fifth Air Force. His unit participated in the Battle of the Philippines, the conquest of the Philippine Islands by the Imperial Japanese Army and Naval Forces (Battle Dates: December 8, 1941-May 6, 1942). Captured 9 April in the Battle of Bataan, while retreating to the Bataan Peninsula. As a prisoner, his captors subjected him to participate in the Bataan Death March, incarcerated at the Prisoner of War Camp #1 Cabanatuan, Luzon Island. Reported missing in action, lost at sea Thursday, July 16, 1942. In remembrance of the brave, his name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at the Manila American Cemetery Location: Fort William-McKinley, Philippine Islands. In his Memory and Honor, a cenotaph memorial has been placed at the Walnut Grove Cemetery in Paris, Missouri. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.