Prior to the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the United States involvement in WWII, Elmer L. Clark worked as a sales clerk in the menswear department at J.C. Penney’s in Moultrie, Georgia. Elmer was inducted in the Marine Corps on March 27, 1943 and went through basic training on Paris Island, where he trained to be a mortarman (MOS 607) a rifleman (MOS 745), and a qualified combat swimmer.
On April 22, 1945, Elmer was attached to B Co., 27th Marines, 5th Marine Division. His unit embarked aboard LST 929 at Kawaihae, Hawaii on January 10, 1945 and began their voyage to the pacific theater. After a stop at Saipan, Mariana Islands, they boarded again for their final destination, Iwo Jima.
On February 19, 1945 Elmer charged Iwo Jima beach with his mortar crew and the 5th Mar Div. He fought until being wounded by gunshot at the base of his skull. Elmer was medevaced aboard the USS Highlands. By March 5, 1945, Elmer was recovering at the 148th General Hospital in San Francisco, CA.
On May 22, 1945 Elmer was transferred to the 1st Training Bn, 1st Training Rgt at Camp Lejune, N.C., where he served until the war ended. Elmer was discharged February 7, 1946 and earned the following awards during his military service:
Purple Heart Medal
USMC Good Conduct Medal
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ 1 Bronze Star
Presidential Unit Citation
WWII Victory Medal
USMC Sharpshooter Rifle Badge
Elmer passed away on September 9, 2002. His USMC Class A blouse and trousers were rescued from the trash by his great nephew when his wife’s estate was being liquidated.
Posted in USMC, WWII US Militaria | 3 Comments »
My favorite antiques and collectibles tell a story. It’s been my experience that unearthing the story is more rewarding than the challenge of obtaining the item. My most recent “story” began at the Hastings, Nebraska military collectibles show in March 2008. I had just set up my dealer table and started walking the floor to see what other dealers brought to sell. A fellow Omaha dealer was loading a garment rack with several US WWII uniforms, so I walked over to take a look.
My eyes were drawn to a green wool USMC blouse and trousers with a 6th Marine Division patch, corporal chevrons, an honorable discharge patch, and matching EGA (Eagle, Globe, and Anchor) collar devices. I looked inside the blouse to discover an unusual name penned inside the shoulder (where size and date are marked on WWII USMC uniforms). The dealer had no information about the veteran, nor did he recall how he acquired the uniform, but he was sure it was a local find.
We agreed on a price, and I walked away with the uniform and a gut feeling that I was going to find information about this soldier. When I returned from the show, I began my research and quickly discovered the veteran was born in Grinnell, Iowa and had attended college at Grinnell University. After college, he entered the Marines and later became an editorial writer for the Omaha World Herald newspaper.
I was on a roll! Further research revealed that he and his wife were living in a retirement community a few miles from my home and his children published a book in 2000 containing a large selection of their father’s World Herald editorials. The book was available at Amazon.com and the first chapter exclusively detailed his experiences as a Scout with H Company, 29th Marines, 6th Division during WWII. Before attempting to contact the veteran, I ordered a copy of his book and read every page regarding his experiences being a Marine.
One story addresses the randomness of death and injury in combat. It explains how the veteran earned his Purple Heart Medal for a gunshot wound, while simultaneously losing a fellow Marine who had been lying beside him. The two Marines were ahead of their platoon scouting enemy movement on Sugar Loaf Hill (located on the island of Okinawa), when a Japanese machine gun crew flanked them and opened fire on their position. Had the Japanese flanked from the opposite direction fate may have reversed the outcome of these men.
After reading the book, I decided to call the veteran and our conversation went well. He was intrigued that I’d take the time to locate him. After explaining my methodologies in locating him he proclaimed that, “I knew his whole life story.” With a laugh I replied, “That’s what happens when you publish a book about yourself!”
I asked about this uniform and apparently it was sold when he and his wife liquidated their house to move into a smaller apartment. After a nice talk over the phone, we agreed to meet in person. He was kind enough to offer me a copy of his discharge papers, military photos, as well as other ephemera from his days as a Marine to put with the uniform. I listened as he talked about Marine life, his career as a writer, and his family. Being the first generation in my family to finish college, I was intrigued to hear the veteran’s father and grandfather had also graduated from college.
As I prepared to leave, I pulled my copy of his book from my bag and said it would be an honor if he signed it. He smiled and wrote inside the cover, “To Chris: Best Wishes & Semper Fi!!” I thanked him for the sacrifices he made for our country and for taking the time to share his experiences with me. I am deeply honored to be the caretaker of his uniform and his stories.
To read more about Scout and Sniper Company, 6th Marine Division, click here.
Posted in USMC, WWII US Militaria | 2 Comments »
