Jack L. Clemens (Irish)

Era: World War II

Military Branch: Army

Mr. Clemens entered the Army on January 30, 1942, at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. Home at entry: Hibbing, Minnesota.

He served as a Technician Fourth Grade and diesel engineman with 777th Engineers in Burma.

Mr. Clemens shared the following: "It's hard to write about happenings (in about four years of your life). The hardest part was saying good bye to your family, wife, and baby and knowing that another child was to be born when you are gone. I always said that our wives were the unsung heroes."

"When we got to the China-Burma-India Theater we were told to go and build a pipeline in Burma. We were constantly under sniper fire and also fire from the natives. The airport at the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains was under attack by the Japs. We were told to get there and hold the airport. To get there, we had to cross rivers filled with snakes and I did get bit by one of them."

"Then we went through the jungle in the monsoon season and we had to watch for Jap snipers and wild animals. All of our clothes were full of mold from the hot moist air. I also got Malaria in the jungle and still had bad malaria attacks when I got home. After reaching the airport, we were cut off from everything for six months but we did hold the airport."

"On the lighter side, all the G.I.'s took a liking to the little kids and gave them candy and stuff. One special little boy took a liking to us and we also liked him. We washed his hair with 100 octane gas to get rid of his lice and gave him a bath. We made him an honorary soldier and even made a uniform for him. We named him 'Jeep'. When we had to leave, we all put in money and gave it to a nun at the convent for an education for our little friend."

"I got my Soldiers Medal for saving three men who were trapped in a cave in. When we were going, I could hear crying. I went back to look and someone else was trapped in there so I started digging with my canteen cup until I could get a hold of him and then I pulled him out. He was a native that must have been guiding them. I could tell more stories, but I cannot talk about some of it. God Bless America."

He was awarded with the following: Soldiers Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Army Meritorious Unit Commendation, and three overseas service bars.

Mr. Clemens was honorably discharged on October 25, 1945, at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin.

Source: Hometown Heroes: The Saint Louis County World War II Project, page 353.