Sunday, May 24, 2009

Treutlen County's Only Name on the Wall

At Rosemont Cemetery is the grave of Treutlen County's only Vietnam Veteran to die in the war.
Most internet references to him are slim: GMG3 Walter Lee Clements, Navy, Died March 13, 1967, Soperton, GA.

After receiving an e-mail from someone who found my blog by Googling, I was disappointed that there was so little recorded about Clements. The e-mailer had been looking through a Navy book, hoping to find a picture of his brother-in-law.

He wrote..."Not there. Instead Walter L. Clements name hits me, the first 'C' on the list, like a slap in the face. I know that name, but from where? It wasn't long for me to recall where I had seen it. On Panel 16e, line 72 of the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C. I'd seen it many times because directly above Walter's remembrance on line 71 is my brothers name..."

I'm adding the following to make Clements' internet records more complete. Also look for more on TREUTLEN E-NEWS http://treutlenenews.blogspot.com
May 25, 2009.

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First Obituary, published in the Soperton News.

WALTER L. CLEMENTS

The U. S. Navy Department has notified Mr. and Mrs. Everett Clements,Route 2, Soperton that their son, GMG3 Walte rLee Clements, 25, has died as a result of injuries received while on duty aboard the USS Harnett County. No further details were given in the telegram.

Mr. Clements was born in Treutlen County and lived all of his life here until joining the Navy in 1960. He attended the Treutlen schools. He was married to the late Mrs. Martha Sue Baggett Clements.

Surviving in addition to his parents are three sisters, Mrs.Helen Currie, Mrs.Evijo Herndon and Miss Margaret Clements of Soperton; two brothers, Carlton Clementsof Dublin and Stanley Clements of Soperton; grandparents, Mrs. J. E. Clements of Soperton; Mrs. George Brant of Stuart, Fla.; Frank Livingston of Soperton.

The body will be returned to Soperton for funeral services. Arrangements will be announced by Sammons Funeral Home.

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Second Obituary, published in the Soperton News.

GMG3 WALTER CLEMENTS

GMG3 Walter Lee Clements, 25, U. S. Navy, died on board the USS Harnett County, March 13.

A resident of Soperton before entering the service, he was a son of Everett Clements and Mrs. Beatrice Livingston Clements o fRoute 2,Soperton. He attended the Treutlen schools and was married to the late Mrs.Martha Sue Baggett Clements.

Surviving in addition to his parents, are three sisters, Mrs. Helen Currie of Soperton, Mrs. Evijo Herndon of Soperton and Miss Martha Clements of Soperton; two brothers,Carlton Clements of Dublin and Stanley Clements of Soperton; grandparents, Mrs. J. E. Clements of Soperton and Mrs.George Brant of Stuart, Fla.; Frank Livingston of Soperton.

Funeral services were conducted at three o'clock Sunday from Rosemont Primitive Baptist Church with Navy Chaplain A. M. Von Allmon and Elder William Hall officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery with Sammons Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Military honors were provided by the U. S. Navy Recruiting Station from Macon.

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Funeral info card, courtesy of Sammons Funeral Home:

SAMMONS FUNERAL HOME, SOPERTON, GA.

Full Name: GMG3 Walter Lee Clements, Age: 26, Rt. 2
Residence, City: Soperton, County: Treutlen, State: Ga.
How Long Present Address: Life
Born: Treutlen Co., Reared---
History: Attended Treutlen Schools; Joined Navy in 1960.
Died as result of an accident while on duty on board the USS Harnett County, March 13
Occupation---
Date and Time of Death: March 13,1967
Place of Death, Institution---
City---, County---,, State---
Length of Stay---
Denomination---
Married: wid. To Whom: Martha Sue Baggett, When---
Survivors: Spouse---
Sons---
Daughters---
Parents: Mr.& Mrs. Everett Clements, Soperton
Sisters: 3 sisters,Mrs.Helen Currie, Soperton; Mrs. Evijo Herndon, Soperton; Miss Martha Clements, Soperton.
Brothers: 2 brothers, Carlton Clements,Dublin; Stanley Clements, Soperton
Grandparents: Mrs.J.E. Clements, Soperton; Mrs George Brant, Stuart, Fla.; Frank Livingston
Funeral: Sunday 3 p.m. Rosemont Primitive Bapt. Church
Interment: Church Cemetery, Treutlen County
Ministers Navy Chaplain Lt.Cmdr. A. M. Von Almon, Elder William Hall
Active Pall Bearers: Servicemen
Military honors provided by Navy Recruiting Station, Macon
Take body home at 8 AM Sun. if casket can be opened. Leave in FH if unopened.
Place in church at 2 PM if casket can be opened. Family will view body when entering the church & not open casket after srvice.
If casket not open, place in church at 2:30 & family will go from home to church.
Birthdy: Dec. 28, 1941
Father's Name Everett Clements
His Birthplace---
Mother's Maiden Name: Beatrice Clements
Her Birthplace
Social Security Number---
Veteran--- What War---
Informant Everett Clements
Informant's Address Rt. 2, Soperton, Ga.
Attending Physician---
His Address---
Memo: Music family
Vault

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No death certificate recorded by Treutlen County Probate Court
.

2 comments:

Mike said...

Hello Bill

First off, let me introduce myself, I’m Michael Withers, Retired Senior Chief, USN, and administrator for GMG3 Walter L. Clements’ profile on the togetherweserved.com web page. If you are not familiar with this site, let me give you a little insight: Commencing with the launch of its US Marines website on the Marine Corps Birthday in 2003, Togetherwerserved.com has produced a series of US Military community heritage websites specially created to enable current or former serving US Servicemen and women to reconnect with old friends, create a lasting legacy of their service, and share in the camaraderie of others who served.

TWS's highly detailed profile pages display a Service member’s entire service history in the finest presentation available including the display of service photos and memories, medal ribbons and insignia as-worn on uniform, era-specific unit patches and many other features that ensures a Member's service to their Country will never be forgotten. With possibly the most comprehensive units, battles and graphics databases in existence, TWS's advanced search capabilities are second to none making TWS a highly effective military locator.
1
A while back, they compiled a list of Sailors who fell in the Vietnam War and were not currently maintained by a Member. If you wanted to take responsibility for researching and being the caretaker of one or more of these Fallen Profiles, you
could select an "Adopt this Fallen Sailor Profile" and that would assign the profile to you. You would then become the adopter/administer of that Profile. This holds true for all the branches of the service, not just the Navy.

Any way, Walter is (1) of (404) profiles I’ve adopted, some dating back as far as WW I, and you’d be correct, some have very little information available on the internet, Walter being one of them. That’s why I was ecstatic when I came across your web page! I’ve included the link to his profile so that you may see what it looks like, I’ll even throw mine in, just so you can see who I am. You may notice on Walter’s profile that some of the pictures and writings look awfully familiar, that’s because I used some of the pictures and exerts from you blog. If you should have any ill feelings…..I will delete them, but regrettably.

I do have a few questions of you, you stated that he joined the Navy in 1960, everything I’ve found says he serviced 4 yrs in the Navy, making the 62 – 63 timeframe for joining the Navy.

I’m also having trouble understanding the cause and reason of death? Do you know of anyone that was able to determine the actual case of death?

Would you by chance know where he may have gone to boot camp?

Any additional information you may have or could obtain would be of immense help in making his profile as complete as possible, especially his service photo!!

Wow….didn’t realize I was so long winded? Do look forward to hearing from you!

Walters Link: http://navy.togetherweserved.com/profile/413552

My Link: http://navy.togetherweserved.com/profile/377683


Thanks,
Mike

BillRicksofSoperton said...

Thank you, Mike.
My Facebook friends are already searching for a photo of Walter. Some of them are related, and I'm hoping that we will receive more information about his record. I assume you already have checked the virtualwall website.
We will continue working on this in memory of Walter.
Bill