Clarence Meffert

Clarence Meffert
Clarence Meffert, 83, passed away February 13, 2011 surrounded by his loving family. It was 67 years ago when the longing to reunite with his beloved brother took priority over personal safety amidst a foreign landscape of destruction and devastation. On July 25, 1944 war was already upon us, and Clarence, a young boy of only 16, wanted to follow in his older brother Dale's footsteps of enlisting to serve his country. Too young to be accepted into the military, he enlisted with the Sea Merchant Marines which consisted of volunteers. After completing his maritime service at Sheepshead Bay in New York he boarded the U.S.S. John Mitchell and set sail for South Hampton, England. Upon arrival, the crew received their orders to cross the English Channel to the Omaha beachhead and deliver vital supplies to our troops there. It was at the completion of one of these deliveries on August 26, 1944 that Clarence saw an opportunity to locate his older brother, whose whereabouts were unknown. A panoramic view of a war stricken foreign country was no deterrent for a naïve teenager, so he made the decision to jump ship. After scouring over the unfamiliar beach for several hours, he stumbled onto a unit from Lamans, France who informed Clarence that Dale's unit was still in Lamans and agreed to take him there. "I was in the right place at the right time", recounts Clarence. He lay covered in the open bed of an army truck for the entire 4 hour journey to Lamans. The soldiers hid him from their 1st Sergeant and said he was a German POW to passing ally troops, looking after him as their own little brother. As the truck made its way, the harsh realities of war flooded the landscape. Clarence somberly remembers, "There was total devastation everywhere. Buildings were reduced to rubble; fires were burning everywhere, everywhere. Hundreds of refugees, mostly women and children, were being led to other locations by Military Police." Despite the circumstances the soldiers made good on their word and delivered him to Lamans. They informed the troops there of what was going on and they had Clarence hide in a small shed until they retrieved Dale. Clarence heard them ask Dale, "What would you give to see someone from home?" At that point Clarence emerged from his hiding place, both of them bewildered at the sight of each other. It had been over a year since they last saw each other, and against all odds, Clarence had found his brother. Did they embrace with joy? Weep, even? "Nope", states Clarence, "we just shook hands. I think we were both in shock." He stayed with Dale and his unit until September 10, 1944, all the while the other troops covered for him going so far as to dress him in one of their uniforms. "Nobody cared that I was there, I think they got a kick out of the whole thing", remembers Clarence. He went back aboard the U.S.S. John Mitchell until he was court marshaled on September 18th. When he walked into the office for his hearing the Sergeant's mouth dropped in amazement at the sight of a skinny kid who couldn't possibly be the one the stories were about. "Well you're not what I expected!" said the Sergeant. "What d'ya mean? Wondered Clarence aloud. It took a lot of TUGS to do what you did, kid." "What's TUGS?" Clarence asked. "That's the army way of saying GUTS backwards!" informed the Sergeant, who was so inspired by his bravery that he waived the 3 month suspension and even paid him the money they docked him for time off ship. Afterwards, he boarded another ship and continued to serve his country to the end of the war, as well as serving in the Korean War. And yet, praise and recognition for his actions meant little to this wartime hero who summed it all up by nonchalantly stating, "I just wanted to find my brother, that's all." Clarence was preceded in death by his loving wife of 30 years, Loretta; 3 sisters; and 2 great-grandsons. He is survived by his children, Brenda (Ronnie) Silcox, Ken (Toni) Meffert, Debbie (Mike) Wilson and Keith (Sue) Meffert; 14 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and brothers, Don and Dale Meffert. Cremation has taken place. Private services for the family will be held. Donation may be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital in Clarence's name.