Lt. Tim Clark

MALAD MARINE PILOT KILLED IN ACTION IN PACIFIC AREA
AFTER SERVICE OVER TOKYO, IWO JIMA

DEAD:

U.S.M.C. Lt. Tim Clark, son of Mrs. W. D. Clark, Malad.

Malad, Ida.–Lt. Tim Clark, 21, marine pilot, was killed in action March 18 (1944/1945) in the Pacific area, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Clark, were informed this week.

Lt. Clark entered service in August, 1942, and trained at Cedar City, Utah; Los Amedas, Cal., and Corpus Christie, Tex., where he received his commission; Miami, Fla., and Santa Barbara, Cal.

He left for overseas duty early in January, 1944, as a member of the famous Wolfpack squadron which attacked Guadalcanal. He participated in the first air raid over Tokyo from a carrier ship and also in the first plane attack on Iwo Jima.

Lt. Clark was born at Malad, Sept. 29, 1923.

Besides his parents, a brother, Lt. John Clark, in the south Pacific, and his grandmother, Mrs. Tim Covert, Malad, survive.

2nd Lt. Tim C. Clark

Presented to Parents (1946)

Posthumous awards of the Silver Star and Air Medal were made Sunday to Lt. Tom C. Clark when Captain Maynard Schmidt, USMC, of Salt Lake City presented the medals to Lt. Clark’s parents, Mrs. and Mrs. W. D. Clark. Lt. Clark, a Marine fighter pilot, was killed March 18, 1945 when his plane went down near Kyushu, Japan.

Citations accompanying the awards by Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal read: Silver Star “For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as pilot of a fighter plane temporarily attached to air group eighty-two on board the U. S. S. Bennington, in action against enemy Japanese forces in Kagoshima Harbor, South Kyushu, Japan, on March 18, 1945. During a hazardous bombing raid against enemy shipping within a well defended harbor area, Second Lieutenant Clark courageously launched a daring strike in the face of terrific antiaircraft fire to score a direct bomb hit on a 2500-ton hostile merchant ship, inflicting severe damage on the vessel. Despite the damage inflicted on his plane in the first dive, he persistently pressed the attack and, still facing intense hostile antiaircraft fire from enemy vessels in the harbor and from nearby shore batteries, plunged to perilously low levels to fire high explosive projectiles and boldly continued to strafe Japanese military objectives until forced down. By his brilliant airmanship and determined aggressiveness, Second Lieutenant Clark contributed materially to the success of his squadron in this vital mission and his great personal valor in the face of grave peril was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.”

Air Medal, “For meritorious achievement in aerial flight as pilot of a fighter plane temporarily attached to air group eight-two on board the U. S. S. Bennington, in action against enemy Japanese forces in Tokyo, Iwo Jima, Okinawa and Kyushu areas from February 16 to March 18, 1945. Participating in five missions against enemy shipping, airfields and installations, Second Lieutenant Clark rendered valiant service throughout each vital assignment despite grave hazards and by his expert airmanship and cool courage, contributed to the success of his squadron in the fulfillment of these important missions. His resolute conduct and unwavering devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval service.