May 7, 1917 - March 25, 1945
Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
San Antonio, Texas

Gold Star Mother
Ruby Mertie Lynch Clements
 

SSGT Clements at Find A Grave

Staff Sergeant* Ira Brice “R. B.”  Clements, U.S. Army [May 7, 1917 - March 25, 1945] was born to Clemy Thomas “Tom” Clements [July 1, 1885 - April 15, 1983] and Ruby Mertie (Lynch) Clements [September 30, 1891 - July 23, 1972] in Matagorda County, Texas.  His parents married at Noble, Sabine Parish, Louisiana on November 21, 1909.  Ira joined the U.S. Army on February 7, 1939 at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas with his brother Marvin and they served together up until he was Killed In Action.  They were assigned to the 23^rd Infantry Regiment, "The Tomahawks" 2^nd Infantry Division and trained at Fort Sam Houston, and did winter training at Camp McCoy (today Fort McCoy), Monroe County, Wisconsin.  They were sent overseas in December 1943 first landing at Ireland. In April 1944 the Regiment moved to Wales as part of the First Army.  The Regiment landed on June 7^th, 1944 in the Normandy Invasion on Omaha Beach at St. Lauren-sur-Mer under enemy fire. The Division battled across Normandy, liberated Brest, France  and into the Siegfried Line holding it’s ground during the Battle of the Bulge in the vicinity of St. Vith, during the Ardennes breakthrough.  He was wounded once, and had just returned to full duty at the time of his death.  His brother Marvin was wounded on March 5^th, 1945.  The Division crossed the Rhine River on March 21^st and advanced to Hadamar and Limburg an der Lahn, relieving elements of the 9^th Armored Division on March 28^th.  It was during this period Ira was Killed in Action. The Division suffered 3,031 Killed in Action and 12,785 wounded in action during the war. Ira was first interred at Henri-Chapelle Cemetery, Eupen, Belgium.  At the request of his parents, his remains were repatriated to the United States c.1948/49 and were interred at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas Section M, Site 211. At the time of his death he was survived by: his parents Tom and Ruby; seven brothers: Captain Clemy T. Clements II U.S. Army Air Force, Staff Sergeant Marvin O. Clements, U.S. Army, Staff Sergeant Ennis P. Clements, U.S. Army, Ensign George L. Clements, Merchant Marines, T. J. Clements, Custer H. Clements and Howard T. Clements; two sisters: Lola Ruth Conger and Ruby Oree Dacke**.

*Grave monument at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery gives rank of T Sgt

**Ruby’s husband John Harold Dacke, Seaman First Class, U.S. Navy was Killed in Action when his ship the USS Bismarck Sea (CVE-95) was sunk off Iwo Jima on February 21, 1945

Photo SSGT Clements courtesy of Jessica Goodson Chapa Find A Grave volunteer #49680242

SON AND SON-IN-LAW KILLED IN ACTION

      S/Sgt. Ira B. Clements, age 26, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. T. Clements of Cedar Lane, lost his life in Germany on March 25th and J. H. Dacke S/1c, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Dacke of Cedar Lane and son-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. C. T. Clements of Cedar Lane made the supreme sacrifice off of Iwo Jima on February 21, when the U.S.S. Bismarck Sea went down. Sgt. Clements enlisted in the United States Army in 1935, trained at Fort Sam and Camp McCoy Wisconsin and was sent overseas in December 1943. He had been wounded once, and had just been returned to active duty when he met his death.

      S1/c Dacke, 19 years old entered service in March 1944, and had been overseas since October 15, 1944. He was married to Miss Oree Clements November 15, 1943. His wife resides now with her parents in Cedar Lane.                        

Matagorda County Tribune, April 19, 1945
 

Ruby Mertie Lynch Clements

Ruby Mertie Clements, 80, of Cedar Lane passed away in Pasadena July 23. Survivors include: husband, C. T. Clements of Cedar Lane; 2 daughters, Mrs. Lola Ruth Laird and Mrs. Ruby Oree Goodson of Houston; 6 sons, T. J. Clements of Damon, C. T. Clements of Pipe Creek, E. P. Clements of Lamar, Ark., M. D. Clements of Bay City, G. L. Clements Sr. of Pasadena and H. T. Clements of Cedar Lane; 2 brothers, Pete Lynch and James Edward Lynch; 27 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild. Funeral services will be held July 25 at the Cedar Lane Baptist Church at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Martin Tucker and Rev. Truman Turk officiating. Interment will be at Roselawn Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be grandsons: Clemy T. III, Custer H., Richard, George L., John M. Clements and John B. Goodson. Funeral services are under the direction of Taylor Brothers Funeral Home.

The Daily Tribune, July 24, 1972
 

Clemy Thomas Clements

Services will be held for C. T. Clements, 97, of Cedar Lane, 4 p.m. Saturday at Taylor Brothers Chapel.

Officiating at the services will be the Rev. Jim Hardaway.

Clements died April 15, 1983 in South Houston.

Survivors include daughters, Mrs. Lola Ruth Laird of Pasadena, Mrs. Ruby Oree Goodson of Houston; sons, T. J. of Damon, C. T. II of Bandera, E. P. of Noble, La., M. O. of Bay City, G. I. of Pasadena, H. T. of Cedar Lane; sister, Vera Clements of Galveston; brother, Rev. Jeff Clements of Hocheim; 27 grandchildren.

Burial will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park.

Pallbearers will include John M. Clements, Custer H. Clements, Jr., Richard Clements, George L. Clements, Jr., John B. Goodson and Howard Clements Jr. Alternate pallbearers are Robert A. Laird and Joe Carker.

Arrangements with Taylor Brothers Funeral Home.

The Daily Tribune, April 15, 1983
 

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