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Contact Info
Home Town Weiser, ID
Last Address Portland, OR
Date of Passing Jul 01, 1992
Location of Interment Willamette National Cemetery (VA) - Portland, Oregon
This is my Grandpa by Richard Monteith: Mar 31, 2019
Clyde Allen Monteith was born July 25, 1922 in Weiser, Idaho and passed away Jul 1, 1992, in Portland, Oregon.
(Most of this was taken by the eulogy given by Richard Monteith)
During his early years, he lived in various towns in Idaho and Oregon and joined the US Navy August 13, 1940, at age of 18.
During his 6 years in the Navy, he served mainly aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise CV-6, which participated in almost every air battle in the Pacific Ocean during World War II. Clyde's rank was QM1, Quartermaster 1st Class. His position was at the helm of the ship.
The Enterprise was one of the most heavily decorated ships in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Dad's battle station during all of this history-making combat was at the wheel of the ship, in the pilot house, steering the ship. this special vantage point caused much of the danger and risk faced by the ship over those four years of war to be deeply impressed upon Dad, which contributed later in his life to his stress and nervousness.
The Enterprise was the flagship of Admiral William F. "Bull" Halsey, fleet commander, who was a good officer and very famous. Dad was proud to have served with Admiral Halsey. In addition to seeing admiral Halsey regularly, since Dad was part of the navigation division aboard the ship, Dad had an additional duty of winding a number of designated clocks aboard the ship each day, including the clock in Admiral Halsey's cabin.
On one occasion, when Dad approached the cabin to wind the clock, the armed Marine at the door refused to let Dad in. Dad explained why he had to go in, but the Marine still refused. Dad left, having done his best. Within a couple of hours, Dad was summoned to the Admiral's cabin. Upon entering the cabin, Dad was at first a little surprised to find Admiral Halsey, already a famous and powerful man, waiting in his underwear. The Admiral asked Dad how he expected him to run a war in the Pacific if he didn't even know what time it was. Dad explained that he tried to get in to wind the clock, but was unable to do so. The Admiral accepted the explanation and told Dad he would make sure that there were no further interference by the Marines, and there was not.
During this time Dad saw a lot of death and destruction, including the deaths of a number of his shipmates aboard the Enterprise.