This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Cpl Steven Ryan (LoneWolf)
to remember
Marine LtGen Clayton Jerome.
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Contact Info
Last Address Hutchinson
Date of Passing Feb 13, 1978
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
While serving in the latter capacity, he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross in April 1937, for his daring rescue of the survivors of a Venezuelan plane crash. Using an amphibious plane, he repeatedly flew over the treacherous jungles of Cuyuni in search of the wreck. After finding it, he made two hazardous landings on the narrow Cuyuni River to rescue four survivors.
The general had also demonstrated his flying ability in January 1930, when the hand control or "stick" of his plane broke off at the socket while he was practicing acrobatics 2,000 feet over the city of San Diego, California. Since a crash would have resulted in death or property damage for people on the ground, he elected to stay with the plane rather than parachute. He righted the craft to normal flying position by maneuvering the socket with his hand; then, lashing the stick back to the socket with his handkerchief, trouser belt and necktie, he made a successful landing.
Other Comments:
As previously mentioned, the general held the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with Combat "V," Gold Star in lieu of a second and Oak Leaf Clusters in lieu of third and fourth awards, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star Medal and the Air Medal. His other medals and decorations include the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon with one bronze star; the World War I Victory Medal; the Yangtze Service Medal; the Expeditionary Medal; the Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal; the American Defense Service Medal with Base clasp; the American Area Campaign Medal; the Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal with one silver star in lieu of five bronze stars, The World War II Victory Medal, The National Defense Service Medal; the Korean Service Medal with three bronze stars; the United Nations Service Medal; the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one bronze star and the rank of Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (New Zealand award).
World War II/Asiatic-Pacific Theater/Northern Solomon Islands Campaign (1943-44)
From Month/Year
February / 1943
To Month/Year
November / 1944
Description The Solomon Islands campaign was a major campaign of the Pacific War of World War II. The campaign began with Japanese landings and occupation of several areas in the British Solomon Islands and Bougainville, in the Territory of New Guinea, during the first six months of 1942. The Japanese occupied these locations and began the construction of several naval and air bases with the goals of protecting the flank of the Japanese offensive in New Guinea, establishing a security barrier for the major Japanese base at Rabaul on New Britain, and providing bases for interdicting supply lines between the Allied powers of the United States and Australia and New Zealand.
The Allies, in order to defend their communication and supply lines in the South Pacific, supported a counteroffensive in New Guinea, isolated the Japanese base at Rabaul, and counterattacked the Japanese in the Solomons with landings on Guadalcanal (see Guadalcanal Campaign) and small neighboring islands on 7 August 1942. These landings initiated a series of combined-arms battles between the two adversaries, beginning with the Guadalcanal landing and continuing with several battles in the central and northern Solomons, on and around New Georgia Island, and Bougainville Island.
In a campaign of attrition fought on land, on sea, and in the air, the Allies wore the Japanese down, inflicting irreplaceable losses on Japanese military assets. The Allies retook some of the Solomon Islands (although resistance continued until the end of the war), and they also isolated and neutralized some Japanese positions, which were then bypassed. The Solomon Islands campaign then converged with the New Guinea campaign.
