Draft:Clarence E. Corley, Jr.

Clarence Eugene Corley, Jr. (November 26, 1920-November 5, 2007) was a decorated officer in the United States Marine Corps who served in World War II and the Korean War. Corley was twice awarded the Silver Star along with a Bronze Star with "V" device and a Purple Heart for his actions during the Korean War.

Early Life
Corley was born in Alexandria, Louisiana on November 26, 1920. He was raised in Pineville, Louisiana, just across the Red River from Alexandria.

When Corley was thirteen years-old his father, Clarence E. Corley, Sr., was killed in a workplace accident along with several other workers in a boiler explosion at the Southern Advance Bag and Paper Mill in Hodge, Louisiana. His father had served with the American Expeditionary Force during the First World War.

In adolescence, Corley attended Bolton High School in Alexandria and was a member of the football and track and field teams at the school.

After high school, Corley attended Louisiana College, now Louisiana Christian University.

Known on campus by the nickname "Pug", Corley was offered a football scholarship in 1938 and was a three-year letter winner for the college. He was named honorable mention all-conference at guard in 1940.

In 1941, he was elected as co-captain of the football team and saw much playing time with the Wildcats football team that season. He was also awarded the Gold Football Award for Athletic Achievement by the Louisiana College student council that same year.

He was active in many campus activities and organizations including the Baptist Student Union, the "L" Club, and was even the sports editor of the college's yearbook, the Pineknot. Corley received letters of inquiry from both the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles, but ultimately chose a military career upon graduation.

Military Career
Upon graduation from Louisiana College, he joined the United States Marine Corps in late 1942 and after basic training was given the opportunity to attend the Marine Corps Officers Training School. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant upon completion of the program.

Corley served in the South Pacific as part of the Pacific Theatre of World War II as an Air Intelligence officer.

After World War II, Corley remained in the Marines and served in the Korean War. Now a captain and infantry officer, Corley was in command of Company H, Third Battalion, First Marines, First Marine Division. Corley and his company first saw action at the Battle of Inchon in September 1950 and participated in the Second Battle of Seoul, which saw the city recaptured by UN forces, and the 3/1 later participated in the infamous Battle of Chosin Reservoir.

He was twice awarded the Silver Star during the conflict, the first for actions on November 28-29, 1950 and the second for actions on March 2, 1951. Corley also earned a Bronze Star with "V" device, awarded to him post-war in 1955, and a Purple Heart during the war.

Following the end of the Korean War, Corley remained in the Marines. After his service in Korea, Corley took charge of USMC recruiting in New Orleans. Corley, now a major, took charge of all Marine Corps recruiting stations in Louisiana in 1953 until 1955 before being reassigned to the 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune.

Corley remained in the Marines until he retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1965.

Later Life
After retirement from the military, Corley relocated to the Meiers Corners neighborhood of Staten Island, New York where he began a career in healthcare as assistant personnel director at Queens Hospital.

In 1968, he became director of personnel at Elizabeth General Hospital in Elizabeth, New Jersey and several years later was promoted to director of personnel administration. In 1973, he became an assistant executive director of Christ Hospital in Jersey City and rose through the ranks as vice president, senior vice president and COO of the hospital. He retired as the COO in 1991 and settled in Sandyston Township that same year.

He was active in many organizations and was president of the Staten island Artificial Kidney Foundation, president of the Hudson County chapter of the American Diabetes Association, president of the Staten Island National Management Club, chairman of Community Board 1, chairman of the board of trustees of the former Park Baptist Church in the Port Richmond neighborhood of Staten Island, member of the Health Planning Committee of Staten Island, a member of the Masonic Lodge, member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, and was an honorary commandant of H-3-1 Korea. In 1996, he was inducted to the Louisiana College Athletic Hall of Fame.

On November 5, 2007, Corley passed away at his home in Sandyston Township at the age of 86. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetary in Arlington, Virginia at Section 60, Site 8174.

Silver Star Citation (First Award)
Citation:

"The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Clarence E. Corley, Jr. (MCSN: 0-20003), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of Company H, Third Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Hagaru-ri, Korea, on 28 and 29 November 1950. When a vastly out-numbering hostile force attacked his company's position and penetrated the center of the lines, Captain Corley fearlessly moved through intense small arms, mortar, artillery and machine gun fire while deploying his men and directing their fire to contain the breakthrough until reinforcements arrived from the battalion command post. Integrating the reinforcing troops with his own, he led a brilliantly executed counterattack against the aggressors and, although painfully wounded during the initial stages of the action, staunchly refused to be evacuated and remained to lead his men in a bitterly fought battle to rout the enemy and repulse the onslaught. His daring and aggressive leadership, indomitable fighting spirit and superb tactics in the face of heavy odds served as an inspiration to all who observed him and reflect the highest credit upon Captain Corley and the United States Naval Service."

Silver Star Citation (Second Award)
Citation:

"The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Captain Clarence E. Corley, Jr. (MCSN: 0-20003), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of Company H, Third Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 2 March 1951. When his company was pinned down by intense enemy automatic weapons, mortar and small arms fire during an attempt to seize a strategic hostile strong point in the vicinity of Hoengsong, Captain Corley unhesitatingly made his way to the foremost position of the action to appraise the tactical situation. Learning that one of his assault platoon commanders had been wounded and evacuated, he elected to follow the assault unit and, during the bitterly contested seizure of the intermediate objective, skillfully directed the fire of a rocket launcher which neutralized a well-defended enemy emplacement. Undeterred by the intense hostile mortar fire, he bravely led his company in the attack on the main objective and succeeded in seizing the enemy strong point with minimum casualties to his unit. By his inspiring leadership, marked courage and unswerving devotion to duty, Captain Corley contributed materially to the success achieved by his battalion and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."