Born in Cleveland, Ohio, on April 30, 1928, and reared in Plant City, Florida, he was the son of the late, Mary Florence Burke Clemons and Joseph Gordon Clemons. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his only brother, Kenneth Richard Clemons, TSRG, U.S. Marine Corps.
He graduated from Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and joined the U.S. Army Air Corps, which later became the U.S. Air Force. As an enlisted man, he competed for an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, successfully entering in 1948. After graduating eighth in his class in 1951, on September 5, 1952, he married the love of his life, Cecil Bealer Russell in the Fort Meyer Chapel, Ft. Meyer, VA., where her father, Army Major Walter B. Russell, was stationed.
During a multifaceted military career, he held commands with K Company, 1st Infantry Regiment, and the 198th Infantry Regiment. As a critical commander in the Korean War battle of Pork Chop Hill, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Silver Star. Gregory Peck played the role of Col. Joseph G. Clemons in the film “Pork Chop Hill,” which was released in 1959.
In 1969, Col. Joseph G. Clemons returned to combat duty in the Vietnam War and was noted for his innovative use of helicopters to support combat, medical resupply and, evacuation. In one mission, he landed to assist an isolated unit and directed that his personal pilot evacuate the wounded, while he remained and directed fire support. For that action, he received the Bronze Star with V device for Valor.
He served in the military from 1946 until his retirement in 1977. In 1999, he was entered into the Ranger Hall of Fame; in 2000, made a member of the U.S. Legion of Valor; and in 2007, he was recognized as a Distinguished Graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
A master parachutist as well as a skilled skydiver, Col. Joseph G. Clemons skippered his 44-foot yawl from California to Hawaii with his wife, son, and brother-in-law in 1977. In his private yacht delivery service, he enjoyed delivering boats not only across the Pacific but to any destination requested. He also enjoyed flying his classic WWII Navions until he was in his early 80s.
After retiring and continuing to live in Hawaii for almost 20 years, Joe and Cecil relocated to Hendersonville in 1988, where Cecil and her family lived when she was a child. As an active parishioner at St. James Church of Hendersonville, he served as Senior Warden, co-founded the Intercessory Prayer Team, as well as started the Sunday transportation team which continues today. He also volunteered hundreds of hours with the Meals on Wheels program in Henderson County.
He was married to Cecil Bealer Russell Clemons for 65 years. The couple had three children; Michael Joseph Clemons of Macon, GA, Susannah Russell Clemons formerly of Kailua, Hawaii and currently residing in Hendersonville and Joseph Gordon Clemons III, and his wife, Elizabeth of Luxembourg, EU; ten grandchildren: Charles Joseph Clemons, Russell Joseph Clemons, Jan Stewart Shultis, Makana Akua Clemons , Leigh Kulani Shultis, Kalani Shultis, Katherine R. Clemons, Kimberly R. Clemons, Abigail E. Clemons, Gordon P. “Mac” Clemons; as well as three great-grandchildren.
Burial with full military honors will be held in the Russell Family Cemetery in Russell, Georgia on Saturday, June 23, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. officiated by Reverend William Russell and Reverend Montgomery Russell.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Armed Forces Retirement Home, 3700 North Capital Street, Washington D.C. 20011-8400.
Smith Funeral Home of Winder, GA and Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors of Hendersonville, NC are in charge of the arrangements.
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