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Last Address C/O MAJ Timothy M. Clemente, USAR 2581 Old Windmill Ct Riverside, CA. 92503
Date of Passing Sep 12, 2006
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Last Known Activity:
The Captain's LAST activity was concern for his family, extended family, team mates, and friends. He was a great Captain, man, and leader. He was "Lawrence of the Cau Mau Peninsula." Fair winds and following seas Dad.
William Joseph Clemente, Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy, Retired, born to William W. Clemente, Colonel, United States Army and Barbara Clemente on 15 May 1926. He is survived by his wife Kim Anh Clemente.
Sons; Dr. William A. Clemente and his wife Dr. Linda Clemente; Keith P. Clemente and his fiancé Tammy; Timothy M. Clemente, Major, United States Army, and his wife Anita Clemente; Anthony T. Clemente, Major, United States Army and his wife Bonnie B. Clemente, Captain, United States Army.
Daughters Ann L. Nyswonger and her husband David Nyswonger; Stacia A. Aspenwall and her fiancé John; Jean E. Majercin and her husband Larry Majercin; and Jacqueline G. Clemente and her husband Keith Lattman, Chief Warrant Officer, United States Marine Corps.
Sisters: Bernice Starace of Lutz FL and family; and Barbara "Babs" Tucker and her pre-deceased husband E. S. Tucker, Major, United States Marine Corps, Retired of Westmore, VT and family.
William J. Clemente entered the naval service in October of 1943 and took part in action in the pacific theater. He served during the Korean conflict and later in the Vietnam Theater. Noteworthy assignments in his 30 year naval career included numerous tours in the elite naval special warfare unit known as the Beach Jumpers.
The Beach Jumper units were highly secretive tactical deception and psychological operations units founded in WWII by Douglas Fairbanks Jr. These units later became the modern SEAL teams. He served in these units both as an enlisted man and as an officer.
Significant assignments as a Beach Jumper included Commanding Officer Beach Jumper Unit 1, Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado, California.
Assistant Officer in Charge Naval Special Warfare Group, Vietnam. He was attached to Commander of Naval Forces, Vietnam. This included the Beach Jumper (BJU), Sea Air Land Teams (SEAL), Underwater Demolition Teams , and Boat Support (BSU) units and as Assistant Officer in Charge, Naval Special Warfare Group, Western Pacific, Detachment Okinawa, Japan.
William J. Clemente, Lieutenant Commander was a qualified, naval parachutist, scuba diver, demolition, unconventional warfare and jungle warfare expert.
Other Comments:
Operation Powerpack (Dominican Republic)
From Month/Year
April / 1965
To Month/Year
September / 1966
Description The mission fell to Lt. Gen. Bruce Palmer, the newly-designated commander of the XVIII Airborne Corps, and Maj. Gen. Robert York, commander of the 82nd Airborne Division. They initiated "Operation Power Pack" and ordered a task force comprised of U.S. Marines and the 82nd Airborne to deploy beginning on April 28. The 7th Special Forces Group, Psychological Operations units, and various logistical support elements also participated.
For the Army, this was the first test of the new ROAD Concept (Reorganization Objective Army Division) designed to develop flexible, deployable forces capable of responding to multiple contingencies.
The initial Marine force arrived by helicopter from the USS Boxer and landed on the western edge of Santo Domingo. The 82nd Airborne Division's first elements were air-landed at San Isidro airfield east of the capital. Maj. Gen. YorkAca,!a,,cs plan called for a battalion size element from the 82nd to advance westward and secure the Duarte Bridge connecting the eastern and western sections of the city. They would then be assisted by loyalist elements in regaining control of Santo Domingo.
The 1st Battalion, 508th Infantry advanced to secure the bridge with close air support from Marine F-4 Phantom jets. Securing the area around the bridge was a hazardous undertaking, requiring house-to-house clearing operations while under fire from rebel forces. The effort was further complicated by the fact that the rebels were assisted by Dominican military defectors who wore the same uniforms as loyalist forces allied with the United States. By mid-afternoon on April 30, both the bridge and the cityAca,!a,,cs main power station were secure. By the following morning, the 82nd had advanced further west and linked up with Marine forces. Additional troops worked to permanently secure the east-west transportation route and this Line of Communication (LOC) was dubbed the "All-American Expressway" by the 82nd. To demonstrate that the U.S. military was firmly in control, Maj. Gen. York marched the 82nd Airborne Division band all the way through the corridor.
By the end of the first week, 500 Marines and two full battalions from the 82nd were conducting security operations on the ground, and by the end of May, the entire division was in country. Lt. Gen. Palmer directed subordinate commanders to begin stability operations. Soon the troops were conducting constabulary operations and distributing food, water, and medical supplies to the members of both factions. Ultimately, more than 40,000 U.S. troops participated in Operation Power Pack.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
April / 1965
To Month/Year
September / 1966
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
People You Remember Officer in Charge, Beach Jumper Unit TWO, Detachment 281, Task Force 124.
