World War II Honoree

Clifford W. Ehlenbach

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Honored By

Audrey Ehlenbach

Relationship

Wife

SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS, NOVEMBER 28, 1945 UNTIL HONORABLE DISCHARGE ON NOVEMBER 27, 1948. HE PARTICIPATED IN THE OCCUPATION OF JAPAN, MARCH 30, 1946 TO AUGUST 8, 1946. PARTICIPATED IN THE OCCUPATION OF CHINA, AUGUST 14, 1946 TO MARCH 31, 1948. HE WAS AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL AND CERTIFICATE OF SATISFACTORY SERVICE. THE MARINES MARCHED THROUGH THE STREETS OF TIENTSIN, NORTH CHINA TO CHEERING CROWDS IN OCTOBER 1945. BUT THINGS TURNED UGLY ONCE THEY BECAME TARGETS OF THE CHINESE COMMUNISTS. HE INITIALLY WAS IN THE TANGSHAN-LINZI-KUYEH AREA GUARDING COAL MINES AND RIDING TRAIN GUARD UNTIL SEPTEMBER 1946 WHEN THE VARIOUS REGIMENTS ROTATED AND HE ENDED UP IN THE MARINE BARRACKS IN PEIPING. WHILE THERE, HE PULLED GUARD DUTY AT THE MARINE BARRACKS, THE U.S. CONSULATE, THE QUARTERMASTER COMPOUND AND REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS AT THE OLD GERMAN LEGATION. HE ALSO RAN CONVOY AND PATROL DUTY BETWEEN PEIPING AND TIENTSIN, NORTH CHINA. HE SHIPPED HOME A PUP NAMED CHINA FROM TIENTSIN. IN MAY 1947 THEY RETIRED THE U.S. FLAG FOR THE LAST TIME AT THE MARINE BARRACKS AND PULLED OUT OF PEIPING FOR GOOD.