ANOTHER EAGLE HAS SOARED.
Clarence "Clancy" Lyall
I received the sad news that Clancy passed away in the early morning of March 19, 2012
Clancy was a halfblood Cherokee Indiaan who carried his Indian name Silver Eagle with pride which also came to expresion in his home in Maryland.(left)
Clancy
enlisted the Army in 1942. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 506th
PIR.
On D-Day he landded in a tree about 3 miles outside St.Mere Eglise (Normandy)
.
He was assigned to E-Co. in Albourne in England in 1944.
Clancy was one of the Liberators of my hometown Eiundhoven (Netherlands)
on Sept. 18, 1944.
After the War he re-assigned to B-Company 508th PIR 82nd Airborne Division in Frankfurt. In 1950 he was assigned to the 187nd Parachute Infantry Regimental Combat Team and in 1955 he was re-assigned to E-Company 506th PIR, 101 ABD.
Clancy
was the only paratrooper of E-Co. with 4 Combat Stars. He made combat
jumps in Normandy, Holland and two in Korea.
He earned 25 decorations and citations that include the European-African-Middle
Eastern Campaign Medal w/3 Bronze Service Stars and a Bronze Arrowhead,
American Campaign Medal Bronze Star Medal, Good Conduct Medall,, Purple
Heart, WWII Victory Medal and Belgian Fourragere.
After his military career ended Clancy was heavily involved in local organizations. He was the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 263 Commander, Vice President American Legion Post 255, (Ridge) President Lions Club, President of Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge, member of the 40/8's, Order of the Purple Heart, Disabled American Veterans, Fraternal Order of Police and Southern Maryland Veteran's Advisory Board.
Clancy's funeral service also was very special.
In a .50 caliber
ammunition case were the cremated remains of our beloved hero and once
again it was typical Clancy.
At the graveside service family and friends were standing in the mud because
there was a good nights rain,.
The ammo box placed over the opening, the reverend said his prayers and just as he finished the sky opened up a beautiful blue color, taps was played .
Clancy had finally made his final jump as was predicted.
The clouds came back as family and friends were leaving, thus our friend was laid to rest.
They were sure by now he has tied in with his buddies who had gone before him too many to mention.
In 2004 I had the honor and privilige to travel through Normandy for one week, together with Clancy. We attended several commemorations.
I've learned to know Clancy as a humble and kind man with the heart at the right spot. We will never forget what he and his buddies did for us in 1944 by giving back our freedom after 4 years of German occupation.
Clancy - Silver Eagle- Rest in Peace.
CURRAHEE.
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Peter van de Wal ©
