World War II Honoree

James C. Clark, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Hutchinson, Kansas

Honored By

J. C. Clark

ENLISTED IN THE NAVAL RESERVE IN JANUARY 1941 AS A PERSPECTIVE NAVAL AVIATOR. GRADUATED ON DECEMBER 1941 AS A NAVAL AVIATOR. SERVED IN THE ALEUTIANS ON JUNE 8, 1942, WHERE WE FINALLY STOPPED AT A TENDER IN ATKA BAY. JUNE 11TH, ANOTHER PBY PILOT, TED SORENSON, AND I BOMBED THE JAPANESE SHIPS AT KISKA. TWO MEN IN MY PLANE WERE KILLED AND ONE WOUNDED. ONE ENGINE WAS SHOT OUT AND WE HAD TO FLY 400 MILES ON ONE ENGINE. SERVED IN DUTCH HARBOR, CHERNOFSKI BAY AS WELL AS ATKA BAY. SENT TO HONOLULU AND ASSIGNED TO KANEOHE NAVAL AIR STATION. SENT ONTO MIDWAY. ARRIVED IN THE ADMIRALTY ISLANDS AND WAS BASED ON A LITTLE ISLAND NAMED PELELIU. BOB HOPE VISITED. ON OCTOBER 16, 1944 WE WENT TO MOROTAI. RAN PATROLS THERE, INCLUDING COVERING THE FLEET AS IT STEAMED TO THE PHILIPPINES. WENT HOME SEPTEMBER 1945. RECEIVED A DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS AND TWO AIR MEDALS.