Bio by findagrave member Orange Yeti
Corporal William Harvey Clampitt, son of Charlie Ora and Oma Blanche Umphress Clampitt, was born December, 1924, in Deer Creek, Tazewell County, Illinois. He died September 3, 1950, after engaging the enemy in combat in the Republic of Korea. He was seriously wounded in action by enemy missile fire and succumbed to his wounds at the 8076th Army Unit Mobile Army Surgical Hospital within 3 hours of the engagement. He was assigned to the 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division at the time of his death.
Harvey was the first son and the first child to survive birth, having had an older sister pass away shortly after birth, one year before his birth. He was much loved by his parents. In my youth, his mother (my grandmother) would recall him often and would tell me stories of him as a boy. She would show me keepsakes from his youth along with his burial flag and medals. She never talked about him as a warrior - only as a beloved son. My birthday is also in December and, having served 21 years on active duty military service and being in combat zones, I have always felt close to him. He died at 24 years of age and never had a family of his own; I have taken it upon myself to keep his memory alive and honor his service and sacrifice.
He came with his family from Illinois to Bedford, Lawrence County, Indiana when he was seven years old; his parents moved back to Indiana to care for his ailing grandfather. In 1942 he moved along with his family to Scottsburg, Scott County, Indiana, living near Zoah Christian Church where he and his family were members. That same year he started his junior year of high school at Scottsburg High School. His birthday falls on December 7th, the same day as the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Upon reaching the age of 18, he joined the United States Army in 1943 and did not graduate with his senior class. He received his diploma in the spring of 1950; his younger sister Alice Clampitt accepted it on his behalf during her own graduation ceremony.
He was also a veteran of World War II, having served 3 years and 11 months, seeing combat in the European Theater of Operations. He was a Prisoner of War, having been captured by the German Army in France a few months after D-Day, June 6, 1944. He spent 6 months as a prisoner at Stalag 4B Mullberg Sachsen 51-53. He would later tell his family he was there until he "liberated his self", escaping back to his own lines. He received many medals including the Purple Heart, POW Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, WWII Victory Medal, National Defense Medal and the Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII. He received his Honorable Discharge on December 3, 1945.
He re-enlisted in the U.S. Army in December 1947 and spent several months in Korea prior to the United Nations Police Action. He received another Honorable Discharge January 9, 1950. He then enlisted for 6 months and left for Korea in the middle of July, 1950, where he was put on active duty. He was at first reported as wounded to his family, but they received notification of his death a short time later. He was posthumously awarded a second Purple Heart, Korean Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, United Nations Service Medal and Combat Infantryman Badge.
He was the first of the Korean War dead to be returned to Scott County, the body arriving in San Francisco by ship with many others. The body was met at the train at 7:58 pm on a Tuesday evening by an honor guard of Scott Post 234 American Legion; the casket was escorted to the Vest Mortuary where it lay in state until time for the funeral at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon, August 12, 1951. The Reverend Marion Henderson of Zoah Christian Church was in charge of the services at the Vest Mortuary and the American Legion gave full military honors graveside in the Scottsburg Cemetery.
Left to mourn his sacrifice were his mother and father, four brothers: Donald, James, Junior and Clinton, three sisters: Alice, Ellen and Evelyn, his grandmothers: Mrs. Phebe Clampitt and Mrs. Nora Umphress. He was preceded in death by two sisters: Annie Bernice and Jessie Mae and grandfathers: Mr. William Curtis Clampitt and Mr. Myron Harve Umphress.
Corporal William Harvey Clampitt, son of Charlie Ora and Oma Blanche Umphress Clampitt, was born December, 1924, in Deer Creek, Tazewell County, Illinois. He died September 3, 1950, after engaging the enemy in combat in the Republic of Korea. He was seriously wounded in action by enemy missile fire and succumbed to his wounds at the 8076th Army Unit Mobile Army Surgical Hospital within 3 hours of the engagement. He was assigned to the 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division at the time of his death.
Harvey was the first son and the first child to survive birth, having had an older sister pass away shortly after birth, one year before his birth. He was much loved by his parents. In my youth, his mother (my grandmother) would recall him often and would tell me stories of him as a boy. She would show me keepsakes from his youth along with his burial flag and medals. She never talked about him as a warrior - only as a beloved son. My birthday is also in December and, having served 21 years on active duty military service and being in combat zones, I have always felt close to him. He died at 24 years of age and never had a family of his own; I have taken it upon myself to keep his memory alive and honor his service and sacrifice.
He came with his family from Illinois to Bedford, Lawrence County, Indiana when he was seven years old; his parents moved back to Indiana to care for his ailing grandfather. In 1942 he moved along with his family to Scottsburg, Scott County, Indiana, living near Zoah Christian Church where he and his family were members. That same year he started his junior year of high school at Scottsburg High School. His birthday falls on December 7th, the same day as the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Upon reaching the age of 18, he joined the United States Army in 1943 and did not graduate with his senior class. He received his diploma in the spring of 1950; his younger sister Alice Clampitt accepted it on his behalf during her own graduation ceremony.
He was also a veteran of World War II, having served 3 years and 11 months, seeing combat in the European Theater of Operations. He was a Prisoner of War, having been captured by the German Army in France a few months after D-Day, June 6, 1944. He spent 6 months as a prisoner at Stalag 4B Mullberg Sachsen 51-53. He would later tell his family he was there until he "liberated his self", escaping back to his own lines. He received many medals including the Purple Heart, POW Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, WWII Victory Medal, National Defense Medal and the Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII. He received his Honorable Discharge on December 3, 1945.
He re-enlisted in the U.S. Army in December 1947 and spent several months in Korea prior to the United Nations Police Action. He received another Honorable Discharge January 9, 1950. He then enlisted for 6 months and left for Korea in the middle of July, 1950, where he was put on active duty. He was at first reported as wounded to his family, but they received notification of his death a short time later. He was posthumously awarded a second Purple Heart, Korean Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, United Nations Service Medal and Combat Infantryman Badge.
He was the first of the Korean War dead to be returned to Scott County, the body arriving in San Francisco by ship with many others. The body was met at the train at 7:58 pm on a Tuesday evening by an honor guard of Scott Post 234 American Legion; the casket was escorted to the Vest Mortuary where it lay in state until time for the funeral at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon, August 12, 1951. The Reverend Marion Henderson of Zoah Christian Church was in charge of the services at the Vest Mortuary and the American Legion gave full military honors graveside in the Scottsburg Cemetery.
Left to mourn his sacrifice were his mother and father, four brothers: Donald, James, Junior and Clinton, three sisters: Alice, Ellen and Evelyn, his grandmothers: Mrs. Phebe Clampitt and Mrs. Nora Umphress. He was preceded in death by two sisters: Annie Bernice and Jessie Mae and grandfathers: Mr. William Curtis Clampitt and Mr. Myron Harve Umphress.
Bio by findagrave member Orange Yeti
Corporal William Harvey Clampitt, son of Charlie Ora and Oma Blanche Umphress Clampitt, was born December, 1924, in Deer Creek, Tazewell County, Illinois. He died September 3, 1950, after engaging the enemy in combat in the Republic of Korea. He was seriously wounded in action by enemy missile fire and succumbed to his wounds at the 8076th Army Unit Mobile Army Surgical Hospital within 3 hours of the engagement. He was assigned to the 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division at the time of his death.
Harvey was the first son and the first child to survive birth, having had an older sister pass away shortly after birth, one year before his birth. He was much loved by his parents. In my youth, his mother (my grandmother) would recall him often and would tell me stories of him as a boy. She would show me keepsakes from his youth along with his burial flag and medals. She never talked about him as a warrior - only as a beloved son. My birthday is also in December and, having served 21 years on active duty military service and being in combat zones, I have always felt close to him. He died at 24 years of age and never had a family of his own; I have taken it upon myself to keep his memory alive and honor his service and sacrifice.
He came with his family from Illinois to Bedford, Lawrence County, Indiana when he was seven years old; his parents moved back to Indiana to care for his ailing grandfather. In 1942 he moved along with his family to Scottsburg, Scott County, Indiana, living near Zoah Christian Church where he and his family were members. That same year he started his junior year of high school at Scottsburg High School. His birthday falls on December 7th, the same day as the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Upon reaching the age of 18, he joined the United States Army in 1943 and did not graduate with his senior class. He received his diploma in the spring of 1950; his younger sister Alice Clampitt accepted it on his behalf during her own graduation ceremony.
He was also a veteran of World War II, having served 3 years and 11 months, seeing combat in the European Theater of Operations. He was a Prisoner of War, having been captured by the German Army in France a few months after D-Day, June 6, 1944. He spent 6 months as a prisoner at Stalag 4B Mullberg Sachsen 51-53. He would later tell his family he was there until he "liberated his self", escaping back to his own lines. He received many medals including the Purple Heart, POW Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, WWII Victory Medal, National Defense Medal and the Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII. He received his Honorable Discharge on December 3, 1945.
He re-enlisted in the U.S. Army in December 1947 and spent several months in Korea prior to the United Nations Police Action. He received another Honorable Discharge January 9, 1950. He then enlisted for 6 months and left for Korea in the middle of July, 1950, where he was put on active duty. He was at first reported as wounded to his family, but they received notification of his death a short time later. He was posthumously awarded a second Purple Heart, Korean Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, United Nations Service Medal and Combat Infantryman Badge.
He was the first of the Korean War dead to be returned to Scott County, the body arriving in San Francisco by ship with many others. The body was met at the train at 7:58 pm on a Tuesday evening by an honor guard of Scott Post 234 American Legion; the casket was escorted to the Vest Mortuary where it lay in state until time for the funeral at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon, August 12, 1951. The Reverend Marion Henderson of Zoah Christian Church was in charge of the services at the Vest Mortuary and the American Legion gave full military honors graveside in the Scottsburg Cemetery.
Left to mourn his sacrifice were his mother and father, four brothers: Donald, James, Junior and Clinton, three sisters: Alice, Ellen and Evelyn, his grandmothers: Mrs. Phebe Clampitt and Mrs. Nora Umphress. He was preceded in death by two sisters: Annie Bernice and Jessie Mae and grandfathers: Mr. William Curtis Clampitt and Mr. Myron Harve Umphress.
Corporal William Harvey Clampitt, son of Charlie Ora and Oma Blanche Umphress Clampitt, was born December, 1924, in Deer Creek, Tazewell County, Illinois. He died September 3, 1950, after engaging the enemy in combat in the Republic of Korea. He was seriously wounded in action by enemy missile fire and succumbed to his wounds at the 8076th Army Unit Mobile Army Surgical Hospital within 3 hours of the engagement. He was assigned to the 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division at the time of his death.
Harvey was the first son and the first child to survive birth, having had an older sister pass away shortly after birth, one year before his birth. He was much loved by his parents. In my youth, his mother (my grandmother) would recall him often and would tell me stories of him as a boy. She would show me keepsakes from his youth along with his burial flag and medals. She never talked about him as a warrior - only as a beloved son. My birthday is also in December and, having served 21 years on active duty military service and being in combat zones, I have always felt close to him. He died at 24 years of age and never had a family of his own; I have taken it upon myself to keep his memory alive and honor his service and sacrifice.
He came with his family from Illinois to Bedford, Lawrence County, Indiana when he was seven years old; his parents moved back to Indiana to care for his ailing grandfather. In 1942 he moved along with his family to Scottsburg, Scott County, Indiana, living near Zoah Christian Church where he and his family were members. That same year he started his junior year of high school at Scottsburg High School. His birthday falls on December 7th, the same day as the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Upon reaching the age of 18, he joined the United States Army in 1943 and did not graduate with his senior class. He received his diploma in the spring of 1950; his younger sister Alice Clampitt accepted it on his behalf during her own graduation ceremony.
He was also a veteran of World War II, having served 3 years and 11 months, seeing combat in the European Theater of Operations. He was a Prisoner of War, having been captured by the German Army in France a few months after D-Day, June 6, 1944. He spent 6 months as a prisoner at Stalag 4B Mullberg Sachsen 51-53. He would later tell his family he was there until he "liberated his self", escaping back to his own lines. He received many medals including the Purple Heart, POW Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, WWII Victory Medal, National Defense Medal and the Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII. He received his Honorable Discharge on December 3, 1945.
He re-enlisted in the U.S. Army in December 1947 and spent several months in Korea prior to the United Nations Police Action. He received another Honorable Discharge January 9, 1950. He then enlisted for 6 months and left for Korea in the middle of July, 1950, where he was put on active duty. He was at first reported as wounded to his family, but they received notification of his death a short time later. He was posthumously awarded a second Purple Heart, Korean Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, United Nations Service Medal and Combat Infantryman Badge.
He was the first of the Korean War dead to be returned to Scott County, the body arriving in San Francisco by ship with many others. The body was met at the train at 7:58 pm on a Tuesday evening by an honor guard of Scott Post 234 American Legion; the casket was escorted to the Vest Mortuary where it lay in state until time for the funeral at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon, August 12, 1951. The Reverend Marion Henderson of Zoah Christian Church was in charge of the services at the Vest Mortuary and the American Legion gave full military honors graveside in the Scottsburg Cemetery.
Left to mourn his sacrifice were his mother and father, four brothers: Donald, James, Junior and Clinton, three sisters: Alice, Ellen and Evelyn, his grandmothers: Mrs. Phebe Clampitt and Mrs. Nora Umphress. He was preceded in death by two sisters: Annie Bernice and Jessie Mae and grandfathers: Mr. William Curtis Clampitt and Mr. Myron Harve Umphress.
