John Franklin Clements

July 1, 1943

JOHN F. CLEMENTS who has been attending the University of Tampa while in the Marine Reserve, leaves today for Duke University, Durham, N. C., for further study, and active duty with the corps. Twelve of his classmates of Tampa U. are going in together.

July 22, 1943

JOHN F. CLEMENTS (the old pigskin star of Bunnell High and lately of Tampa U.) on active duty in the Marines but at Duke U at Durham. N, C., tells his mother in a letter that he really is learning how to keep his room and things "just right for inspection." And, incidentally, that The Tribune "is a small paper besides some we have here but it is the biggest to me." (Thanks, John, for the bouquet)

October 28, 1943

Marine Private JOHN F. CLEMENTS and Mrs. Clements arrived here last Saturday for a short stay. They have gone to Tampa to visit Mrs. Clements parents. John F. expects to be transferred to either Parris Island or San Diego, since he has completed his course at Duke University.

November 25, 1943

Another Marine of Flagler county is now in California. JOHN F. CLEMENTS. He is at San Diego.

December 8, 1943

The other one (Flagler CO boy in a hospital) is Pvt. JOHN F. CLEMENTS, Marine at the San Diego base in California - down with a light case of pneumonia. John F. wrote his mother here, Mrs. Charles SeDessie, that he reported at sick call, was examined by the doctor. Pretty soon he heard an ambulance siren but "it didn't occur to me that the ambulance was for me, but I was put in it anyway and put to bed immediately in the hospital." Both men report that they are getting the best care possible and are well on their way to recovery.

December 30, 1943

Christmas greetings received his week included cards from: Capt. and Mrs. J. R. West (Dr. Richard West), formerly of Bunnell, who is stationed at the base hospital at Boca Raton, Fla.; Ensign Corise Varn in the Waves at Charleston, S. C.; Chief and Mrs. Johnny Stanish of San Bruno, California; Lt. and Mrs. Joe Norfleet of Seattle, Wash.; Capt. and Mrs. Gilbert Tucker of Camp Davis, N. C.; Pvt. JOHN F. CLEMENTS who is with the Marines at San Diego, Calif.; Cpl. Leonard Moody of Camp Haan, Calif.

Also a unique V-Mail greeting from Cpl. Richard Tucker who has served with the Marines in the Southwest Pacific area for the past year and a half.

These greetings and letters are very deeply appreciated by both Fuller and I. I am planning to make up a scrap book of them one of these days (when I can find time) and it will be something that probably all of us as well as the coming generation will enjoy reading.

January 20, 1944

JOHN F. CLEMENTS, Marine Pfc. at San Diego, was voted by the G. I.’s and oked by the commanding general as the most outstanding person in his battalion. John also recently made expert rifleman. He has been in Tampa on leave for a few days with his wife and mother and upon his return to base will take the examination for pilot training.

February 10, 1944

Pfc. JOHN F. CLEMENTS of San Diego, Calif. and his wife of Tampa, spent the past week here with his mother. John F. recently had a severe case of "cat fever" but has recovered and was enjoying his leave at his home in Tampa when had a relapse. But he left this week to return to San Diego.

March 30, 1944

Marine Pvt. JOHN F. CLEMENTS had successfully passed the naval pilot’s examination, and probably will begin that training soon.

April 20, 1944

JOHN F. CLEMENTS, with the Marines in California, writes that he expects to he there for about three more months and is playing baseball while there.

September 7, 1944

Well, it's been a pretty good while since we heard of some of the Flagler county fellows getting together, but we learned this week that Marines JOHN F. CLEMENTS and Custer Durrance, both on the West Coast, got together the other day and expect to contact Marine Bobbie Jenkins (who used to live in Bunnell) in a few days.

October 5, 1944

Pvt. JOHN F. CLEMENTS, with the Marines at San Diego for a number of months, came in with Mrs. Clements to day for a short visit here with his mother and other relatives.

December 28, 1944

Well, Christmas has come and "went," and now 1945 is just around the corner for all of us. Let us hope all of us will be able to celebrate Christmas of 1945 together once again.

The editor of this column feels today about like "Father Time" looks, acknowledges with appreciation greeting cards from more of you fellows scattered around the world.

Other cards received included those from ......Marine Pfc. JOHN F. CLEMENTS in California

August 9, 1945

Pfc. JOHN CLEMENTS who is stationed at Parris Island with the Marines, recently sent us a paper showing the baseball team of which he is a member. John has been burning up the league this season.

He won 26 games before losing a three-hitter to another service team of the league. Since then he has added another victory to his belt. John says that all the games they play are seven inning affairs.

He has pitched two no-hit, no run games this season. He said that he had a good catcher - one who used to play with the Cleveland Indians - but that he had been recently discharged.

November 22, 1945

Marine Pfc. JOHN F. CLEMENTS is scheduled to be discharged in a few days, his mother here, Mrs. C. S. SeDessie, said today.

December 13, 1945

Discharged from the armed forces this week ....... JOHN F. CLEMENTS