Casper C. Clemons
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Navy
Casper C. Clemons was born in Wyoming, Minnesota, and enlisted in the US Navy in 1935. He was discharged in 1939, but he re-enlisted on January 19, 1942. He arrived for duty in the Pacific in August of 1942. He was a gunner's mate 1st class (qualified for chief petty officer), aboard the destroyer USS Lardner (DD 487).
Casper witnessed the sinking of the aircraft carrier USS Wasp and also depth charge attacks by the USS Lardner and cruiser USS Juneau which resulted in sinking a Japanese submarine.
The USS Lardner rescued 340 survivors of the Wasp. He participated in the original shore bombardment at Guadalcanal in October of 1942, and a night surface engagement as part of cruiser task force credited with sinking nine Japanese ships at Tassaforanga.
The ship also intercepted Japanese shipping in the "Slot" at the Solomon Islands. It supported troop landings on Vella LaVella, New Georgia, and was in the bombardment of Bougainville, also, it was under enemy air attack, and it helped evacuate wounded Marines.It also bombarded Kieta and Nama Numa Islands in the New Hebrides and Shortland Islands. It participated with Destroyer Squadron 12 in attacks on Rabaul that destroyed several Japanese warships.
The Lardner was credited with sinking an enemy cargo ship in an anti-shipping sweep of area. The ship was involved in pre-landing strikes on Palau and troop landings at Hollandia and Attape. It participated in the Mariannas campaign and supported air strikes against Iwo Jima and Guam.
He received the:
American Campaign Service Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Service Medal with 10 bronze battle stars.
He was discharged on October 16, 1944.
After the war, he worked in Alaska until moving to Minnesota in 1948. He has lived in the Hibbing area ever since. He retired in 1975 after serving as a brakeman and conductor for the Duluth Missabe & Iron Range Railway.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The Saint Louis County World War II Project, page 58.
