Clarkson, Thomas Samuel

Item

Title
Clarkson, Thomas Samuel
Gender
Male
Biography
Corporal Thomas Clarkson of Walton is thought to be the first casualty from Boone County in the Korean War. His registration papers for World War II have Samuel as his middle name, but it is reported as James in the newspapers. Thomas was born to Anna M. and R. H. Clarkson on October 9, 1927.
He served in Germany in World War II before re-enlisting in the 1st Cavalry Division in the Korean War. He was initially sent to Japan before being sent to the battlefront. Clarkson was a machine gunner. He was killed in action in South Korea on September 1, 1950, when he was 22 years old.
He received the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal. He is buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
Birth date
9 Oct 1927
Place of birth
Campbell County (Ky.)
Father
Clarkson, Raymond H.
Mother
Munro, Anna Mae
Death date
1 Sep 1950
Place of death
South Korea
Death and burial information
Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery (Erlanger, Ky.)
Military service
Co. A, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, U.S. Army
Allegiance
United States of America
Held rank
Private
Corporal
Place of enlistment
Camp Atterbury (Columbus, Ind.)
Service began
10 Jan 1946
Resided in
Newport (Ky.)
Fort Thomas (Ky.)
Bibliographic citation(s)
FindAGrave.com, memorial #100891368
U.S., Korean War Casualties, 1950-1957
The Spectator, 1945, Lloyd Memorial High School, Erlanger, Ky.,, page 11