# William T. Clement

William Tardy Clement (September 27, 1894 – October 17, 1955) was a highly decorated general of the United States Marine Corps with the rank of lieutenant general during World War II. He is most noted as commanding general of Fleet Landing Force that would make the first landing on the Japanese home islands following the nation's unconditional surrender.

## Biography

Clement was born in Lynchburg, Virginia, and graduated from Virginia Military Institute. Less than a month after reporting for active duty in 1917, Clement sailed for Haiti where he joined the 2nd Marine Regiment and its operations against rebel bandits.
Upon his return to the United States in 1919, he reported for duty at Marine Barracks, Quantico, where he remained until 1923, when he became post adjutant of the Marine detachment at the American Legation in Peking, China. In 1926, he was assigned to the 4th Marine Regiment at San Diego as adjutant and in October of the same year was given command of a company of Marines on mail guard duty in Denver, Colorado, where he remained for three months until rejoining the 4th Marines. Clement sailed with the regiment for duty in China in 1927 and was successively a company commander and regimental operations and training officer. Following his return to the United States in 1929, he became the executive officer of Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, and then commanding officer of the Marine detachment on board the West Virginia (BB-48). Clement spent most of the 1930s at Quantico, first as a student, then as an instructor, and finally as a battalion commander with the 5th Marines.
The outbreak of World War II found Clement serving on the staff of the Commander-in-Chief, Asiatic Fleet in the Philippines. Although quartered at Corregidor, he served as a liaison between the commandant, 16th Naval District; the commanding general, U.S. Army Forces in the Far East; and particularly with the forces engaged on Bataan until ordered to leave on board the U.S. submarine Snapper (SS-185) for Australia in April 1942. For his handling of the diversified units engaged at Cavite Navy Yard and on Bataan, he was awarded the Navy Cross.
Following tours in Europe and at Quantico, Clement joined the 6th Marine Division in November 1944 as assistant division commander and took part in the Okinawa campaign. Leading the 4th Marines ashore at Yokosuka on 30 August, was a memorable event in Clement's life and career—command of the Fleet Landing Force that would make the first landing on the Japanese home islands following the nation's unconditional surrender.
Less than two months after the Yokosuka landing, he rejoined the division in Northern China. When the division was redesignated the 3rd Marine Brigade, Clement became commanding general and in June 1946 was named commanding general, Marine Forces, Tsingtao Area.
Returning to the United States in September, he was appointed president, Naval Retiring Board, and then director, Marine Corps Reserve. In September 1949, he assumed command of Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, holding that post until his retirement in 1952. Lieutenant General Clement died in 1955.

## Awards & honors

Clement is the recipient of the following awards:
| 1st Row | Navy Cross | Navy Cross | Navy Cross | Navy Cross | Navy Cross | Navy Cross | Navy Cross | Navy Cross | Navy Cross | Navy Cross | Navy Cross | Navy Cross | Navy Cross | Navy Cross |
| 2nd Row | Legion of Merit with "V" Device and two 5⁄16" Gold Stars | Legion of Merit with "V" Device and two 5⁄16" Gold Stars | Legion of Merit with "V" Device and two 5⁄16" Gold Stars | Legion of Merit with "V" Device and two 5⁄16" Gold Stars | Bronze Star Medal | Bronze Star Medal | Bronze Star Medal | Bronze Star Medal | Navy Presidential Unit Citation with two stars | Navy Presidential Unit Citation with two stars | Navy Presidential Unit Citation with two stars | Navy Presidential Unit Citation with two stars | Army Presidential Unit Citation with Oak leaf cluster | Army Presidential Unit Citation with Oak leaf cluster | Army Presidential Unit Citation with Oak leaf cluster | Army Presidential Unit Citation with Oak leaf cluster |
| 3rd Row | Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal with two service stars | Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal with two service stars | Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal with two service stars | Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal with two service stars | World War I Victory Medal with West Indies Clasp | World War I Victory Medal with West Indies Clasp | World War I Victory Medal with West Indies Clasp | World War I Victory Medal with West Indies Clasp | Haitian Campaign Medal | Haitian Campaign Medal | Haitian Campaign Medal | Haitian Campaign Medal | Yangtze Service Medal | Yangtze Service Medal | Yangtze Service Medal | Yangtze Service Medal |
| 4th Row | China Service Medal | China Service Medal | China Service Medal | China Service Medal | American Defense Service Medal with Foreign Service Clasp | American Defense Service Medal with Foreign Service Clasp | American Defense Service Medal with Foreign Service Clasp | American Defense Service Medal with Foreign Service Clasp | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three 3/16 inch bronze service stars | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three 3/16 inch bronze service stars | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three 3/16 inch bronze service stars | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three 3/16 inch bronze service stars | American Campaign Medal | American Campaign Medal | American Campaign Medal | American Campaign Medal |
| 5th Row | European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal | European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal | European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal | European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal | World War II Victory Medal | World War II Victory Medal | World War II Victory Medal | World War II Victory Medal | Navy Occupation Service Medal | Navy Occupation Service Medal | Navy Occupation Service Medal | Navy Occupation Service Medal | National Defense Service Medal | National Defense Service Medal | National Defense Service Medal | National Defense Service Medal |
| 6th Row | Philippine Defense Medal with one star | Philippine Defense Medal with one star | Philippine Defense Medal with one star | Philippine Defense Medal with one star | Order of the Cloud and Banner, Fourth Grade | Order of the Cloud and Banner, Fourth Grade | Order of the Cloud and Banner, Fourth Grade | Order of the Cloud and Banner, Fourth Grade | Order of the Sacred Tripod, Fourth Grade | Order of the Sacred Tripod, Fourth Grade | Order of the Sacred Tripod, Fourth Grade | Order of the Sacred Tripod, Fourth Grade | Dutch Order of Orange-Nassau with Swords, Commander | Dutch Order of Orange-Nassau with Swords, Commander | Dutch Order of Orange-Nassau with Swords, Commander | Dutch Order of Orange-Nassau with Swords, Commander |