Rank and Name, Private First Class Clarence Edward Ayers Jr.
Unit/Placed in, 1st Battalion (A-Comp) 1st Marines, United States Marine Corps.
Clarence is born approx. on 7 Jan. 1926 in Plymouth, North Carolina.
Father, Clarence E. Ayers Sr.
Mother, Eleanor P. (Chesson) Ayers.
Sister(s), Eleanor R. Ayers.
Clarence enlisted the service in North Carolina with service number # 538554.
Clarence was KIA when he tried to help the wounded on the (Landing Beaches) when he got shot on 16 Sep. 1944, he is honored with an Silver Star Medal, Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, American Campaign Medal, Navy & Marine Presidential Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.
Clarence is buried/mentioned at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Philippines.
He also has a Memorial Grave at Grace Episcopal Church Cemetery, Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, USA.
Thanks to,
Jean Louis Vijgen, WW2-Pacific Website.
Air Force Info, Rolland Swank.
ABMC Website, https://abmc.gov
Seabees History Bob Smith https://seabeehf.org/
Navy Info, http://navylog.navymemorial.org
POW Info, http://www.mansell.com Dwight Rider and Wes injerd.
Navy Seal Memorial, http://www.navysealmemorials.com
Family Info, https://www.familysearch.org
Marines Info, https://missingmarines.com/ Geoffrey Roecker
Info, https://www.pacificwrecks.com/
Medals Info, https://www.honorstates.org
Philippine Info, http://www.philippine-scouts.org/
Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com
Silver Star CITATION:
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class Clarence Edward Ayers, Jr. (MCSN: 538554), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with the First Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Peleliu Island in the Palau Group, on 18 September 1944. Volunteering to assist in removing casualties to the rear when no stretcher-bearers were available during the sustained attack on a fiercely defended coral ridge, Private First Class Ayers boldly made his way forward under a terrific concentration of rifle and machine gun fire and, leading litter bearers to dangerously exposed positions in front of their own lines, worked with untiring energy in directing and aiding the evacuation of wounded Marines until he himself was fatally struck down by a burst of enemy fire. Private First Class Ayers’ intrepid initiative, resolute fortitude and cool courage in the face of savage, unceasing opposition contributed materially to the saving of many lives, and his valiant devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
