Darrel E. Clark
Darrel E. Clark
DARREL
E.
CLARK
SOLDIER DETAILS
BIOGRAPHY
Darrel Clark joined the Navy on March 3, 1942, and received training as a Signalman. After being assigned to the USS Thomas Jefferson, an Assault Troop Transport, her took part in the Invasions of Fedala, Sicily, Salerno and the very important Invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944. He also spent a shore leave in Scotland. In 1945, the Thomas Jefferson went through the Panama Canal into the Pacific Theater and became part of the Invasion of Okinawa. Also in 1945, Darrel and his brother Loman, were fortunate to have a reunion in Hawaii where both of their ships were in port. After his discharge as Nave Chief Signalman in 1945, Darrel attended Kansas State College and earned a degree in Landscape Design which led to a career in City Planning. He began in Kansas City, then moved to Topeka, Salina and back to Kansas City where he retired as Chief of Regional Planning. He married Mary Lou Eibert Clark and had four daughters.