William Hazelett Clarkson, Jr.
Corporal, U. S. Marine Corps
World War II

William Hazelett Clarkson, Jr. was born on 15 July 1924 in Saint Louis, MO. He was the son of William Hazelett and Louise (MacArthur) Clarkson. He was graduated from the Monroe School in 1938 and from Roosevelt High School in Saint Louis, in 1942. He spent his summers with his maternal aunt and first cousin at New Piasa Chautauqua, IL, where he was a telephone boy and a lifeguard at the swimming pool.

William joined the Marine Corps in November 1942. He spent four months in boot training at San Diego, CA, and sailed on 10 March 1943 for further training in Wellington, New Zealand. He was with the Second Division, 3rd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment during the battle of Tarawa. After seven months there, he sailed from Honolulu to Saipan. He was a Corporal in intelligence all through the campaign.

On 7 July 1944, they were in an advanced position when the Japanese broke through the front lines in an organized Banzai attack. At daybreak, a Japanese tank with its cannon and machine gun opened fire. It was not known if he was hit by the machine gun or a sniper, but he died almost immediately.

Death and Burial

Corporal William Hazelett Clarkson, Jr. was killed in action on 7 July 1944. He was initially buried on Saipan in the Second Division cemetery. He is now buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Honolulu County, HI, in Section N, Grave 774.

Two cenotaphs are also provided for William:

In the family lot at Oakwood Cemetery, Upper Alton, IL, in Lot 2, Block 109.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=8578906

A sundial by the flagpole at Chautauqua, IL.