Pvt. Jerome Stirling Clinkenbeard was born in Chicago, Illinois, on August 21, 1925, to John S. Clinkenbeard and Johannah Begley-Clinkenbeard. He had a sister and two brothers. The family resided at 7719 West Grand Avenue in Elmwood Park. Since the suburb did not have its own high school, he was allowed to pick a nearby high school to attend. He chose Schurz High School in Chicago, but it appears he changed his mind and transferred to Proviso Township High School. After his sophomore year, his family moved to Los Angeles, California, and lived at 5744 South Wilton Place, but Jerome never returned to school and worked in a machine shop.
When he turned 18, he registered with selective service and named his friend, Frank Scherer, as his contact person. Knowing it was just a matter of time until he was drafted into the Army, Jerome enlisted on September 30, 1943. He was issued the serial number 36 712 078. It appears that he was sent to Fort Lewis, Washington, for basic training.
At some point he was assigned to the Company K, 63rd Infantry Regiment, 6th Infantry Division which deployed to the South Pacific in July 1943. It appears he was a replacement and arrived in the South Pacific sometime after the unit began training at Milne Bay, New Guinea. The unit trained there until June 1944. His unit engaged in its first combat Toemwakde area of Dutch Harbor New Guinea. It also took part in the Battle of Lone Tree which was extremely bloody, and secured Maffin Bay. After some rest, which also allowed the unit to be restaffed, the 63rd took part in two more operations in New Guinea when it was withdrawn from combat.
On January 9, 1945, the 63rd landed at Lingayen Gulf, Philippine Islands, and fought the Japanese into the Cabanatuan hills from January 17th to 21st in what the soldiers called, “The Purple Heart Valley Campaign.” His unit captured the Barrio of Munoz on the February 7th. They turned northeast and to Dingalan Bay and Baler Bay cutting off the Japanese forces in southern Luzon. On February 24th, the 63rd joined the Battle of Manila and fought on the Shimbun Line. There they fought the Japanese who were dug into the hills in tunnels. During this fight, on March 19, 1945, Jerome was killed at Montalban, Rizal Provence, when he was hit by shrapnel from a mortar shell in his chest and abdomen. He was buried in the United States Armed Forces Cemetery #1, Manila, on March 21, 1945, in Plot 2, Row 13, Grave 124, in a shelter half.
In a letter dated September 11, 1946, John Clinkenbeard was informed of where his son was buried and the location of his grave in the cemetery. He was also told that he would be receiving another letter providing him with information on his options for Jerome’s final burial. Another letter, dated October 22, 1947, provided his father with his options for his son’s final burial and asked him to fill-out and return an enclosed form indicating where he wanted his son buried. The form was received by the Office of the Quartermaster General, Washington DC on December 17, 1947. His father indicated that he wanted Jerome buried in an American Military Cemetery. This form apparently was misplaced and a second one was submitted on July 20, 1948.
The American Graves Registration Service had the job of recovering and identifying the dead. In the Philippines, this included the thousands of Americans who had fought on Luzon and in Bataan from December 1941 to April 9, 1942, and those who had died in the Japanese POW camps on the island. In a report dated November 28, 1947, his remains were considered identified, casketed, and placed in storage in the AGRS Mausoleum, Manila, in Hanger 812, Bay L, Crypt 3726. The mausoleum was a series of hangers at Nichols Airfield.
Pvt. Jerome S. Clinkenbeard was buried at the new American Military Cemetery, outside of Manila, on September 16, 1949, with full military honors, in Plot L, Row 16, Grave 62. His father was sent the flag that covered his casket and received the following letter.
Pvt Jerome S. Clinkenbeard, ASN 39 712 078
Plot L, Row 16, Grave 62
Headstone: Cross
Ft. McKinley U. S. Military Cemetery
(Manila, Philippine Islands)
Mr. John Stirling Ckinkenbeard
5744 South Wilton Place
Los Angeles, California
Dear Mr. Clinkenbeard:
This is to inform you that the remains of your beloved ones have been permanently interred, as the recorded above, side by side with comrades who also gave their lives for their country. Customary military funeral services were conducted over the grave at the time of burial.
After the Department of the Army has completed all final interments, the cemetery will be transferred, as authorized by the Congress, to the care and supervision of the American Battle Monuments Commission. The commission will have the responsibility for permanent construction and beautification of the cemetery, including erection of the permanent headstone. The headstone will be inscribe with the name exactly recorded above, the rank or rating where appropriate, organization, State, and date of death. Any inquiries relative to the type of headstone or the spelling of the name to be inscribed thereon, should be addressed to the American Battle Monuments Commission, Washington D. C. Your letter should include the full name, rank, serial number, grave location, and name of cemetery.
While interments are in progress, the cemetery will not be open to visitors. You may rest assured that the final interment was conducted with fitting dignity and solemnity and that the grave-site will be carefully and conscientiously maintained in perpetuity by the United States Government.
Sincerely yours,
(signed)
H. FELDMAN
Major General
The Quartermaster General
