Claud Walter Yancey was born August 16, 1916 at Hackett, Sebastian Co., Ar. to Henry Lee & Johanna Annie Gist Yancey. January 31, 1941 he married Cora Lucille Risley in Washington County, Arkansas as that was where both were residing at that time. No draft card has been found for Claud nor enlistment record. We do know he enlisted in the US Navy and reached the rank of Lieutenant according to his head stone. November 5, 1943 he is listed on a muster of the USS Smith (DD-378) which was a Mahan-class destroyer although it appears that Claud and 8 other Navy men, with the ranks of Ensign. and Lieut, were "passengers" on the ship. He and 3 other listed as Ensign were assigned to LCT's. LCT's were Landing Craft Tanks....The landing craft, tank (or tank landing craft) was an amphibious assault craft for landing tanks on beachheads, as you can see in the photo below. A Flotilla, listed on the November '43 muster, is "usually composed of a homogeneous group of the same class of warship, such as frigates, destroyers, torpedo boats, submarines, gunboats, or minesweepers. Groups of larger warships are usually called squadrons. D-V(G) beside his name on the muster is -- USNR designation for deck officers, commissioned and warrant, including boatswains, gunners, and torpedomen, qualified for general detail afloat or ashore. This classification was abolished in September 1944 and replaced by (D) or (D)L. Personal Stories from some of the men who served on the LCT's in WWII can be found HERE Claud Walter Yancey passed away October 25, 1993 in Mansfield, Scott Co., Ar. and was buried in Coop Prairie Cemetery there. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~` Southwest Times Record Fort Smith, Arkansas 27 Oct 1993 Mr. Claud W. Yancey of Mansfield, Arkansas, died Monday, October 25, 1993. Mr. Yancey was 77 years old. He was a retired school teacher and a retired instructor at Westark Junior College (now UAFS). He was a World War II veteran; and of the Baptist faith. Mr. Yancey is survived by his wife: Cora Yancey; 3 sons: Jack Yancey and his wife: Carolyn Sue Yancey of Fort Smith, Arkansas, Paul Yancey of Greenwood, Arkansas, and Claud W. Yancey Jr. of Bedford, Texas; 1 daughter: Linda Scogin of Greenwood, Arkansas; 7 grandchildren; other relatives and many dear friends. Funeral service was held at Dayton Baptist Church on October 27, 1993. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`