Imphal, The Hump and Beyond
Imphal, The Hump and Beyond
U.S.A.A.F. Combat Cargo Groups of the Second World War
2nd Combat Cargo Group, 6th Combat Cargo Squadron
James A. Clement, Coxswain, USS HOPE
| As Written to: Robbie D. Langston Dated 10-12-1991 Enclosed is a copy of a News Report that was on the radio and in the newspaper. 'I was the driver of the boat that picked you up'. When you saw the boat you said "Merry Christmas!" It was nice to see and speak to you. Look forward to seeing you at another HOPE Reunion. News Article appeared in New Orleans Newspaper - 1945 Signed: James A. Clement JAMES A. CLEMENT COXSWAIN IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY SERVED ABOARD U.S.S. HOPE, Dec. 1944 JAMES A. CLEMENT, 786 Avenue C, Westweco, LA, has helped save the lives of many American fighting men by his work, as a crew member of a modern hospital ship. In six months of active duty the HOPE, newest and latest Navy Hospital craft, established a remarkable record of only 14 deaths, out of more than 5,000 cases taken aboard. Last November, she arrived in Leyte Gulf, and in two hours and 45 minutes, placed nearly 500 patients aboard, another record of which she is proud. Like her sister ships, the USS COMFORT and USS MERCY, the HOPE operates under the NAVY, with a full Navy crew. At the beginning of a mission, the crew established a blood bank, to which each member contributes. More than 200 transfusions have been given from this source and from it, 1,000 pints of whole blood has been made available to other activities. Recently the HOPE staged a dramatic rescue of four army fliers forced down in Philippine waters. The radioman heard faint S.O.S. signals on Christmas Day, and with SOS the cheerful message, "Merry Christmas." Rescue was affected at 1A.M. on December 26, 1944 and one of the rescued fliers swore the HOPE, with her bright red crosses and green markings on the sides, resembled the most welcome "Christmas Tree" he has ever seen. Active in that rescue was COXSWAIN CLEMENT. He has contributed to that blood bank. which the ship carries, and has brought comfort and relief to as many of that 5,000 patients, as he possibly could. And although, we have saluted the HOPE, we claim Coxswain Clement, as a real NEW ORLEANS HERO and THE HOPE, AS ONE GRAND SHIP. |
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| I am looking for former members of
the 3rd Combat Cargo Group, 1st, Combat Cargo Group, 2nd Combat Cargo Group and the
4th Combat Cargo Group. In fact I would like to hear from anyone who flew over the
Hump during WW II, or flew any Combat Cargo Missions at any time (Berlin Air-Lift, Korea,
etc.) Please e-mail comment, suggestions, corrections,etc to: bill@comcar.org Imphal, the Hump and Beyond Copyright © 199-2000 Bill Bielauskas All rights reserved. Notice to all Viewers: All stories and images within "Imphal, The Hump and Beyond, U.S.A.A.F Combat Cargo Units of the Second World War", are Copyright ©1999-2000, to the Veteran who submitted the text and/or photographs and to Bill Bielauskas, Webmaster at "Imphal, the Hump and Beyond, U.S.A.A.F. Combat Cargo Units of the Second World War". All rights reserved. No part of this page, or those connected via links, either text, or images may be used for any purpose other than personal use. Storage, reproduction, modification on a retrieval system or transmission, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without prior written permission of the Copyright © holder(s) is prohibited. This includes storage on another Internet Website other than "Imphal, the Hump and Beyond, U.S.A.A.F. Combat Cargo Groups of the Second World War" Bill Bielauskas 10 Cayuga Trail, Wayne, NJ. 07470-4406 |