Advertisement

CDR Conley Clark “Arky” Laster Jr.

Advertisement

CDR Conley Clark “Arky” Laster Jr.

Birth
Johnson County, Arkansas, USA
Death
29 May 1952 (aged 35)
Virginia, USA
Burial
Norfolk, Norfolk City, Virginia, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
View Source
CONLEY CLARK LASTER, JR.
UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY
CLASS OF 1940
Conley Laster - "Arky"

Arky's first ship was USS PORTLAND. After Pearl Harbor, he joined many of his classmates in flight training at New Orleans and Jacksonville. After earning his wings, he was attached to a dive bomber squadron in Air Group 80, deployed on board the new carrier USS TICONDEROGA CV-14. During the Philippines Campaign, he was awarded a D.F.C. and an Air Medal. On 21 Jan. 1945, TICONDEROGA was hit by two kamikazes. Arky suffered 3rd degree burns on his arm and leg, and for this he was awarded the Purple Heart.

Before deployment, Arky married Anne Stewart in Norfolk on June 12, 1944. They had two children, Clark III and Susan Elizabeth. Their son died on June 6, 1985, after a stroke. Susan remained in Norfolk.

After TICONDEROGA duty, he was assigned to an air group on board an escort carrier, USS BOGUE. For a short time after the war, he was stationed in the Pentagon, and then again joined a number of his classmates at PG School. After two years at Annapolis, he went on to MIT, earning a degree in Aeronautical Engineering.

After school days, Arky went back to flying with an air group at NAS Norfolk. Shortly thereafter, he was sent to Bethesda Naval Hospital, where his illness was diagnosed as amyitrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's Disease). He was retired from the Navy in April, 1950, with 100 percent disability, and in just two years, on May 29, 1952, he died at the Portsmouth Naval Hospital, and is buried at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Norfolk.

Submitted by: cv14.com
ID #50005019
CONLEY CLARK LASTER, JR.
UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY
CLASS OF 1940
Conley Laster - "Arky"

Arky's first ship was USS PORTLAND. After Pearl Harbor, he joined many of his classmates in flight training at New Orleans and Jacksonville. After earning his wings, he was attached to a dive bomber squadron in Air Group 80, deployed on board the new carrier USS TICONDEROGA CV-14. During the Philippines Campaign, he was awarded a D.F.C. and an Air Medal. On 21 Jan. 1945, TICONDEROGA was hit by two kamikazes. Arky suffered 3rd degree burns on his arm and leg, and for this he was awarded the Purple Heart.

Before deployment, Arky married Anne Stewart in Norfolk on June 12, 1944. They had two children, Clark III and Susan Elizabeth. Their son died on June 6, 1985, after a stroke. Susan remained in Norfolk.

After TICONDEROGA duty, he was assigned to an air group on board an escort carrier, USS BOGUE. For a short time after the war, he was stationed in the Pentagon, and then again joined a number of his classmates at PG School. After two years at Annapolis, he went on to MIT, earning a degree in Aeronautical Engineering.

After school days, Arky went back to flying with an air group at NAS Norfolk. Shortly thereafter, he was sent to Bethesda Naval Hospital, where his illness was diagnosed as amyitrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's Disease). He was retired from the Navy in April, 1950, with 100 percent disability, and in just two years, on May 29, 1952, he died at the Portsmouth Naval Hospital, and is buried at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Norfolk.

Submitted by: cv14.com
ID #50005019


Sponsored by Ancestry

Advertisement

  • Created by: SWF
  • Added: Jul 8, 2012
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/93256721/conley_clark-laster: accessed ), memorial page for CDR Conley Clark “Arky” Laster Jr. (30 Dec 1916–29 May 1952), Find a Grave Memorial ID 93256721, citing Forest Lawn Cemetery, Norfolk, Norfolk City, Virginia, USA; Maintained by SWF (contributor 47026053).