WWII Sebastian Co Ar

Clarence Patrick Gipson
1921-1986

Clarence P. Gipson was born September 8, 1921 in White Oak Township, Sebastian Co., Ar. to Joseph Merle & Florence E. Bumpass Gipson. March 25, 1947 he married Norma F. Green in California. They later divorced.

Clarence enlsted in the US Navy May 19, 1942 and served until October 29, 1945. Some of his muster rolls are at the bottom of this page along with a photo of the ship he served on and stories about it.

Clarence P. Gipson passed away November 17, 1986 and is buried in Dawson Memorial Cemetery at Milltown, Sebastian Co., Ar.

USS Logan (APA-196) was a Haskell-class attack transport

After shakedown off Santa Barbara during November, the new attack transport steamed to Pearl Harbor for two months of rigorous training with Vice Admiral Richmond K. Turner's TF 51 in preparation for the assault on Iwo Jima. Departing Hawaii on 26 January 1945, the ship stopped at Saipan, to use that recently liberated rugged atoll for five more days of very realistic training. She left Saipan on 16 February and on the 19th sighted the lamb chop-shaped little island of Iwo Jima, outlined against the morning sky by the battleship barrage that had been pounding the Japanese stronghold for several days. Pulling to within 1,000 yards (900 m) of the volcanic beaches, Logan lowered all boats, completing the intricate operation in under 30 minutes. Immediately thereafter, the beachmasters, engineers, and quartermasters were quickly dispatched ashore. During the early afternoon of "D-Day", Logan began the daily routine that was to last for nine days; receiving casualties from the beach to be treated by the ship's medical department and meanwhile unloading the vital combat gear as rapidly as possible to the LSMs and LSTs waiting alongside.

For Iwo Jima the ship was assigned to the 23rd Marines of the 4th Marine Division. She landed Hq Company of the 133rd NCB on yellow beach D Day for Shore Party duty. Later, on 21 February, at 0445 hours, The Logan rammed the USS NAPA (APA-157) along frames 98–102. The impact resulted in a 15 foot long hull breach to the NAPA, and extended 10 feet beyond the turn of the bilge. With Minimal damage done to the Logan, she continued her service in Iwo Jima until she received her departure orders. With 200 wounded soldiers resting comfortably in sick bay, the ship departed Iwo Jima on 28 February. Stopping briefly at Saipan, she made Guam on 4 March and debarked the casualties. The next day she sailed back to Saipan to prepare for the assault on Okinawa.

Following three weeks of extensive rehearsals off Saipan and Tinian with Rear Admiral Wright's TG 51.2, Logan steamed to Okinawa to feint an assault on the southeastern coast on 1 April, diverting the enemy's attention from the real attack which was made successfully on the western coast during the same day. The same maneuver was again successful the following day. For the next six days, Rear Admiral Wright's group laid off Okinawa, fully prepared, if needed, to reinforce the gallant men already ashore. By 11 April the success of the campaign was assured, and the task group steamed back to Saipan.

The ship was hit by a Japanese Kamikaze and Officer Percy McDonald Scarbrough and others rescued many wounded men in lifeboats. Scarbrough received the Meritorious Service Medal for his heroism and quick thinking.

Logan maintained her readiness with exercises off Saipan and in the New Hebrides. Leaving Nouméa, New Caledonia, on 17 July, the ship made the Marianas the 26th, embarked more, than 1,500 troops and 200 wounded from Saipan, Guam, and Tinian, and sailed for CONUS. She reached San Francisco on 13 August, two days before the Japanese surrender.

After V-J Day the tremendous job of occupying Japan and bringing home the veteran troops still faced the Navy. Consequently, Logan departed San Francisco on 23 August to embark troops at Pearl Harbor for occupation duty in Japan. She arrived at Honshū on 27 September. On 10 October she proceeded to the Philippines, thence to the Marshall Islands, embarking 1,932 for the passage home. The ship arrived Seattle on 27 October 1945.