Travis, Clyde Ray, St. Helena Parish, Louisiana
File prepared by D.N. Pardue and submitted by Inez Bridges Tate.
************************************************
Submitted to the LAGenWeb Archives
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
************************************************

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 Ray (Billy) Travis was born and raised in the Pine
Ridge community.  He graduated from Greensburg High School in
1944.  Billy tells a funny story about his draft notice.  His
name is Clyde but he was always known as Billy.  A draft notice
was mailed to "Clyde Travis."  The mail carrier, Mr. Ott, saw
Billy's grandmother, Mrs. Lizzie Travis, and asked her, "Who is
Clyde Travis?"  She didn't know but thought about it that night.
She met Mr. Ott the next morning and told him Clyde and Billy
are one and the same.  He delivered the notice later that day,
and Billy was scheduled to report to Greensburg for an examination
that day.  This was late 1943 and he was allowed to stay home un-
til right after New Years' Day 1944.  They left Greensburg on
the White Eagle bus, traveling to Baton Rouge and on to New
Orleans, taking the long way.  He wanted to go into the Navy but
was told they had filled their quota for that day.  Noticing 
Billy's name was Travis the officer asked if he knew Commander
Travis.  When Billy replied that Commander was a relative, he
was allowed to go into the Navy.  Just behind him was another
young man from St. Helena who also wanted to go into the Navy 
but was not permitted.  Billy felt fortunate to get into his
choice of service and attributes this to knowing Commander Travis.

     Basic training was at San Diego, Ca. where his cousin Fernie
McMillan was also taking basic training.  He shared some tales
about Fernie who was considered "the old man" as he was in his
late 30's.  He feels Fernie was allowed to get away with things
due to his age.  He also saw his brother Alton who came into the
Navy about a week later than he.

     Following basic training, he was allowed a short leave to
come home.  He then went to Tibberon Base at San Francisco, Ca.
Billy said he was walking down a street in San Francisco and
happened to look in a store.  He saw T.J. Brabham inside the
store.

     Billy said the ship he was assigned was towed to the Manis
Island where they then repaired this ship.  He served 23 months
on Dry Dock here where they repaired other ships.  Billy stated
the equator ran through this island.  He recalls an ammunition 
ship blew up while docked at the island.  Two other ships that
were on either side also blew up.  All of the crew aboard the
three ships lost their lives.  This was a terrible sight.

     Fulfilling his tour of duty, Billy returned to the United
States and was discharged at New Orleans May 1946.

     He came back to St. Helena to the place where he was born
and went into the dairy business.  Billy and Miss Doris Hutchinson
were married on February 26, 1948.  They have three children and
eight grandchildren.

     Billy has done some construction work and continues the
operation of his dairy.  He enjoys sporting events, following
his grandchildren as they played football, etc.  Doris is now
retired after working at the local Health Unit for many years.
Recently the group he served with on the Dry Dock on the Manis
Islands have begun having reunions.  He and Doris have enjoyed
attending several of these to see his buddies from his Navy days.
He and his family attend Pine Ridge Methodist Church and are
active in other community affairs.

* * *