HARRELL, Clyde W., St. Helena and East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana
File prepared by D.N. Pardue and submitted by Inez Bridges Tate.
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Submitted to the LAGenWeb Archives
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From "St. Helena Vets Remember World War II: Personal Interviews
With World War II Vets", published by St. Helena Historical
Association, 1995.  Compiled and edited by Inez Bridges Tate and
reprinted with permission.

     Clyde W. Harrell, Sr. was born in Kentwood.  His mother
died and he was raised by his grandparents Mr. & Mrs. Harrell in
the Red Bluff Community.  He said he was able to spend more time
with his mother's family when he was about nine years old.  At
that time he would go to their home in the Pine Ridge Community
on the school bus, spend the night, and return to school the next
day.  In this way he became acquainted with his maternal grand-
parents, Mr. and Mrs. Bryan.

     Graduating from Greensburg High School in 1943 before his
17th birthday, he worked on the boats on the Mississippi River
until he became 17 years old.  At that age, he could join the
Merchant Marines.  He joined in December 1943 and as he had the
three-months experience working on boats, no additional training
was required.  He was issued his seaman's papers and shipped out
for New Guiana December 26, 1943.  Enroute to New Guiana with
their load of supplies for the troops, they were required to man
the guns aboard the ship.  On the return trip to the United
States they had Navy personnel aboard who were responsible for
the guns.  He returned to the United States July 1944.  In Aug-
ust 1944 they crossed the Atlantic to England.  They shuttled
across the English Channel to follow the Army with supplies.
They were aboard the ship but vividly recalls the Battle of the
Bulge and the frightening V-1 rockets that were launched by the
Germans against the Allies.  Clyde said he was in Hamburg,
Germany when the Germans surrendered.

     Returning to the United States they shipped out to the
Philippines, going into the harbor at Manila.  They were there,
when troops were being prepared and equipped to invade Japan.
What a relief when the Atom Bomb was dropped and the Japanese
surrendered, thus ending World War II.  With the end of the War,
he returned to San Francisco.  His service with the Merchant
Marines ended on August 31, 1945.

     Decorations and citations received: Merchant Marine Emblem,
Atlantic War Zone Bar, Pacific War Zone Bar, Victory Medal,
Honorable Service Button and Presidential Testimonial Letter.
It was not until January 1989, however, that those men who serv-
ed as Merchant Marines during World War II were officially 
declared as veterans of that War.

     Returning to St. Helena Parish, he began work as a carpenter.
He has been a member of the Carpenter's Union for many years and
has worked as a supervisor on many jobs.

     In 1950, Clyde and Miss Audrey Wagner were married.  They are
the parents of five children, have ten grandchildren and three
great grandchildren.

     Clyde divides his time between his home in the Red Bluff 
Community and his Baton Rouge home.  Retired now, he volunteers
one day a week at the Veterans Clinic in Baton Rouge.  In the
country he enjoys growing vegetables in his garden.

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