James O. Clemons March 27, 1923 - November 11, 2018
James was born to Harl and Edith Clemons on March 27, 1923 in Marshalltown, IA. He was raised with his brother, Richard, in New Providence, Iowa. They were a family of farmers, raising corn, beans, hogs and cattle. He attended New Providence, IA schools. After High School graduation, his interest in aircraft mechanics took him to California to attend at Aero ITI to learn how to repair almost anything that was in the air at that time. He was in San Francisco looking for work on December 7th, 1941 when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. In 1942 his job in Sacramento was working on and building the B-24’s that he would be flying in during WWII.
He received “Greetings” from the government in late 1942, and instead of waiting volunteered to go early in place of a friend whose wife had just had a baby. James was properly inducted February 13th, 1943.
As part of the 15th Army Air Force 484th Bomber Group, he and his crew arrived in Cerignola Italy and Torretta Field in September 1944. From their new home, they and their escorts, The Tuskegee Airmen, flew 35 combat missions and many goodwill missions delivering supplies to liberated countries. Battles and campaigns his crew participated in: Rome-Arno, Southern France, Po Valley, Air Combat in the Balkans, North Apennines, Central Europe, and Rhineland Campaigns.
James received the following decorations and citations:
Awarded 7 Bronze Stars for the Rome-Arno, Southern France, Po Valley, Air Combat Balkans, North Apennines, Central Europe, and Rhineland Campaigns. DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Cluster, Good Conduct Medal, and is entitled to wear the European-African-Middle Eastern Theatre Campaign Ribbon, and One Overseas Bar.
After his separation from the military in July 1945, he returned home to Iowa. 1948 was his best year. He married his bride of nearly 65 years, Gertrude Below. From that marriage two sons were brought into the world. Donald James and Jon Richard.
In 1963 Jim picked up his family and moved to Oklahoma when the job market in Iowa failed. He worked as an auto mechanic. A few years later he went to work for the United States Post Office as a letter carrier. Jim retired from the post office.
His activities during downtime were very community driven. He helped the Catoosa, Ok quarterback club build the school’s new football field and track. He was actively involved as a member of the Rolling Hills Volunteer Fire Department as a firefighter and Fire Marshall. He had a big part in getting the Rolling Hills Senior Center started along with the Senior Meals and Meals on Wheels for the area. As a Catoosa Sertoma Club member he was Sertoman of the Year for his service to mankind and worked diligently with the Catoosa High School Serteens. He’s a member of the Catoosa Masonic Lodge and has been a Mason for almost 60 years. Jim has had a lifetime of service and volunteering.
James was preceded in death by his parents, wife Trudy, and brother Richard Clemons.
Jim is survived by sons Don Clemons of Catoosa, OK and Jon Clemons and his wife Anita of Claremore, OK; Grandson, Judson Clemons and wife Rachael of Claremore, OK, and Great-Grandchildren Isaac James Clemons and Adalynn Marie Clemons.
Visitation will be Thursday November 15th from 4:00pm to 8:00pm at Floral Haven. Family will be present from 6:00pm to 7:00pm. Service will be held at 12:30pm, Friday November 16th at Floral Haven Rose Chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Grace Hospice of Oklahoma LLC in Tulsa.
James was born to Harl and Edith Clemons on March 27, 1923 in Marshalltown, IA. He was raised with his brother, Richard, in New Providence, Iowa. They were a family of farmers, raising corn, beans, hogs and cattle. He attended New Providence, IA schools. After High School graduation, his interest in aircraft mechanics took him to California to attend at Aero ITI to learn how to repair almost anything that was in the air at that time. He was in San Francisco looking for work on December 7th, 1941 when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. In 1942 his job in Sacramento was working on and building the B-24’s that he would be flying in during WWII.
He received “Greetings” from the government in late 1942, and instead of waiting volunteered to go early in place of a friend whose wife had just had a baby. James was properly inducted February 13th, 1943.
As part of the 15th Army Air Force 484th Bomber Group, he and his crew arrived in Cerignola Italy and Torretta Field in September 1944. From their new home, they and their escorts, The Tuskegee Airmen, flew 35 combat missions and many goodwill missions delivering supplies to liberated countries. Battles and campaigns his crew participated in: Rome-Arno, Southern France, Po Valley, Air Combat in the Balkans, North Apennines, Central Europe, and Rhineland Campaigns.
James received the following decorations and citations:
Awarded 7 Bronze Stars for the Rome-Arno, Southern France, Po Valley, Air Combat Balkans, North Apennines, Central Europe, and Rhineland Campaigns. DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Cluster, Good Conduct Medal, and is entitled to wear the European-African-Middle Eastern Theatre Campaign Ribbon, and One Overseas Bar.
After his separation from the military in July 1945, he returned home to Iowa. 1948 was his best year. He married his bride of nearly 65 years, Gertrude Below. From that marriage two sons were brought into the world. Donald James and Jon Richard.
In 1963 Jim picked up his family and moved to Oklahoma when the job market in Iowa failed. He worked as an auto mechanic. A few years later he went to work for the United States Post Office as a letter carrier. Jim retired from the post office.
His activities during downtime were very community driven. He helped the Catoosa, Ok quarterback club build the school’s new football field and track. He was actively involved as a member of the Rolling Hills Volunteer Fire Department as a firefighter and Fire Marshall. He had a big part in getting the Rolling Hills Senior Center started along with the Senior Meals and Meals on Wheels for the area. As a Catoosa Sertoma Club member he was Sertoman of the Year for his service to mankind and worked diligently with the Catoosa High School Serteens. He’s a member of the Catoosa Masonic Lodge and has been a Mason for almost 60 years. Jim has had a lifetime of service and volunteering.
James was preceded in death by his parents, wife Trudy, and brother Richard Clemons.
Jim is survived by sons Don Clemons of Catoosa, OK and Jon Clemons and his wife Anita of Claremore, OK; Grandson, Judson Clemons and wife Rachael of Claremore, OK, and Great-Grandchildren Isaac James Clemons and Adalynn Marie Clemons.
Visitation will be Thursday November 15th from 4:00pm to 8:00pm at Floral Haven. Family will be present from 6:00pm to 7:00pm. Service will be held at 12:30pm, Friday November 16th at Floral Haven Rose Chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Grace Hospice of Oklahoma LLC in Tulsa.
James O. Clemons March 27, 1923 - November 11, 2018
James was born to Harl and Edith Clemons on March 27, 1923 in Marshalltown, IA. He was raised with his brother, Richard, in New Providence, Iowa. They were a family of farmers, raising corn, beans, hogs and cattle. He attended New Providence, IA schools. After High School graduation, his interest in aircraft mechanics took him to California to attend at Aero ITI to learn how to repair almost anything that was in the air at that time. He was in San Francisco looking for work on December 7th, 1941 when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. In 1942 his job in Sacramento was working on and building the B-24’s that he would be flying in during WWII.
He received “Greetings” from the government in late 1942, and instead of waiting volunteered to go early in place of a friend whose wife had just had a baby. James was properly inducted February 13th, 1943.
As part of the 15th Army Air Force 484th Bomber Group, he and his crew arrived in Cerignola Italy and Torretta Field in September 1944. From their new home, they and their escorts, The Tuskegee Airmen, flew 35 combat missions and many goodwill missions delivering supplies to liberated countries. Battles and campaigns his crew participated in: Rome-Arno, Southern France, Po Valley, Air Combat in the Balkans, North Apennines, Central Europe, and Rhineland Campaigns.
James received the following decorations and citations:
Awarded 7 Bronze Stars for the Rome-Arno, Southern France, Po Valley, Air Combat Balkans, North Apennines, Central Europe, and Rhineland Campaigns. DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Cluster, Good Conduct Medal, and is entitled to wear the European-African-Middle Eastern Theatre Campaign Ribbon, and One Overseas Bar.
After his separation from the military in July 1945, he returned home to Iowa. 1948 was his best year. He married his bride of nearly 65 years, Gertrude Below. From that marriage two sons were brought into the world. Donald James and Jon Richard.
In 1963 Jim picked up his family and moved to Oklahoma when the job market in Iowa failed. He worked as an auto mechanic. A few years later he went to work for the United States Post Office as a letter carrier. Jim retired from the post office.
His activities during downtime were very community driven. He helped the Catoosa, Ok quarterback club build the school’s new football field and track. He was actively involved as a member of the Rolling Hills Volunteer Fire Department as a firefighter and Fire Marshall. He had a big part in getting the Rolling Hills Senior Center started along with the Senior Meals and Meals on Wheels for the area. As a Catoosa Sertoma Club member he was Sertoman of the Year for his service to mankind and worked diligently with the Catoosa High School Serteens. He’s a member of the Catoosa Masonic Lodge and has been a Mason for almost 60 years. Jim has had a lifetime of service and volunteering.
James was preceded in death by his parents, wife Trudy, and brother Richard Clemons.
Jim is survived by sons Don Clemons of Catoosa, OK and Jon Clemons and his wife Anita of Claremore, OK; Grandson, Judson Clemons and wife Rachael of Claremore, OK, and Great-Grandchildren Isaac James Clemons and Adalynn Marie Clemons.
Visitation will be Thursday November 15th from 4:00pm to 8:00pm at Floral Haven. Family will be present from 6:00pm to 7:00pm. Service will be held at 12:30pm, Friday November 16th at Floral Haven Rose Chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Grace Hospice of Oklahoma LLC in Tulsa.
James was born to Harl and Edith Clemons on March 27, 1923 in Marshalltown, IA. He was raised with his brother, Richard, in New Providence, Iowa. They were a family of farmers, raising corn, beans, hogs and cattle. He attended New Providence, IA schools. After High School graduation, his interest in aircraft mechanics took him to California to attend at Aero ITI to learn how to repair almost anything that was in the air at that time. He was in San Francisco looking for work on December 7th, 1941 when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. In 1942 his job in Sacramento was working on and building the B-24’s that he would be flying in during WWII.
He received “Greetings” from the government in late 1942, and instead of waiting volunteered to go early in place of a friend whose wife had just had a baby. James was properly inducted February 13th, 1943.
As part of the 15th Army Air Force 484th Bomber Group, he and his crew arrived in Cerignola Italy and Torretta Field in September 1944. From their new home, they and their escorts, The Tuskegee Airmen, flew 35 combat missions and many goodwill missions delivering supplies to liberated countries. Battles and campaigns his crew participated in: Rome-Arno, Southern France, Po Valley, Air Combat in the Balkans, North Apennines, Central Europe, and Rhineland Campaigns.
James received the following decorations and citations:
Awarded 7 Bronze Stars for the Rome-Arno, Southern France, Po Valley, Air Combat Balkans, North Apennines, Central Europe, and Rhineland Campaigns. DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Cluster, Good Conduct Medal, and is entitled to wear the European-African-Middle Eastern Theatre Campaign Ribbon, and One Overseas Bar.
After his separation from the military in July 1945, he returned home to Iowa. 1948 was his best year. He married his bride of nearly 65 years, Gertrude Below. From that marriage two sons were brought into the world. Donald James and Jon Richard.
In 1963 Jim picked up his family and moved to Oklahoma when the job market in Iowa failed. He worked as an auto mechanic. A few years later he went to work for the United States Post Office as a letter carrier. Jim retired from the post office.
His activities during downtime were very community driven. He helped the Catoosa, Ok quarterback club build the school’s new football field and track. He was actively involved as a member of the Rolling Hills Volunteer Fire Department as a firefighter and Fire Marshall. He had a big part in getting the Rolling Hills Senior Center started along with the Senior Meals and Meals on Wheels for the area. As a Catoosa Sertoma Club member he was Sertoman of the Year for his service to mankind and worked diligently with the Catoosa High School Serteens. He’s a member of the Catoosa Masonic Lodge and has been a Mason for almost 60 years. Jim has had a lifetime of service and volunteering.
James was preceded in death by his parents, wife Trudy, and brother Richard Clemons.
Jim is survived by sons Don Clemons of Catoosa, OK and Jon Clemons and his wife Anita of Claremore, OK; Grandson, Judson Clemons and wife Rachael of Claremore, OK, and Great-Grandchildren Isaac James Clemons and Adalynn Marie Clemons.
Visitation will be Thursday November 15th from 4:00pm to 8:00pm at Floral Haven. Family will be present from 6:00pm to 7:00pm. Service will be held at 12:30pm, Friday November 16th at Floral Haven Rose Chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Grace Hospice of Oklahoma LLC in Tulsa.
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