Remembering Clark's Fallen Heroes: Pfc. Paul J. Clauss, 77th Infantry Div., WWII

He was born on Dec. 15. Maybe his army buddies said “Happy Birthday” to him that last morning. He was 31 years old on that final day of his life.

His memory and name are at two locations in Clark. Tum off of Valley Road onto Schmidt Lane – actually the proper spelling should be Schmitt, but for some unknown reason it has been misspelled for more than 45 years – go to mid block and take a look up at the street sign. You will see his name there together with another Clark “Fallen Hero” — Martin Schmitt. After leaving there, go on over to the high school and check out his name inscribed on Clark’s War Memorial. He is the third name down: Paul J. Clauss.

Paul grew up in Elizabeth and was a graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School in 1933. After high school, he attended Drake Business College and was employed by the Simmons Company for several years before entering the armed forces. He was a member of St. Michael’s Church in Elizabeth. Before entering the army he had been active in various sports and a member of the Vagabond Club and the Bayway Club. He was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul W. Clauss, and was related to former Clark mayor Leon Schindler.

Upon entering the service in 1941 he trained at Camp Craft, S.C.; Hydea, Ariz. and other camps in different parts of the country. Eventually he was assigned to the 77th Infantry Division, “New York's Own,” 305th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion Company “G.”

The 77th departed San Francisco on March 24, 1944 and arrived in Hawaii March 30 1944, where it trained in jungle warfare and amphibious maneuvers The 305th proceeded to Guam July 21, 1944 and assisted the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade in taking Mt. Alifan the following day. They continued fighting on Guam, and took part in mop up operations until the division departed Nov. 3, 1944.

While Private 1st Class Clauss was fighting on Guam, elsewhere military decisions were being made that would have a profound deadly effect on his life.

On July 26, 1944 President Franklin D. Roosevelt arrived in Hawaii, aboard the Baltimore, for the purpose of meeting with General MacArthur, and Admirals Nimitz and Leahy. The conference was for one Pacific area issue – where to strike next. MacArthur wanted to reconquer the Philippines – from where he had surreptitiously left Corrigedor in March 1942. The next day of the conference, July 27, 1944, Roosevelt asked pf MacArthur: “Well Douglas, where do we go from here?” MacArthur answered: “Mindano, then Leyte – and then Luzon." The president did not come to a decision in Hawaii, as he wanted to return to Washington to hold further discussions.

On Sept. 13, 1944 the combined chiefs – Admiral Leahy, Gen. Arnold, Admiral King and General Marshall – approved the invasion of Leyte over Mindano and gave MacArthur the go-ahead.

After much preparation, the invasion of Leyte Island tbok place on Oct. 20, 1944. The designation "D-Day," having been preempted by Eisenhower in Normandy four months earlier, that Friday was called "A-Day.” Four hours after the start of the invasion, MacArthur went ashore with the third assault wave and produced one of the most famous quotes in US. military history: “People of Philippines: I have returned.“

As the fighting on Leyte continued on, the 77th and Pfc. Paul J. Clauss arrived there on Nov. 23, 1944. MacArthur proposed to put the 77th ashore three miles south of Ormoc, behind enemy lines on the western side of Leyte. MacArthur would use this same type of successful military manuever six years later at "Inchon," South Korea. The closing of the "back door" on Leyte was a bold move and made much military sense. While the 1st cavalry, 24th and 32nd infantries were pressing the Japanese on Leyte from the north and east, two other divisions - the 7th and 96th - were pushing from the south and east. By landing the 77th at Ormoc, between these two army corps, you would have a third front on Leyte. The assault landings occured on Dec. 7, 1944, the third anniversary of Pearl Harbor.

News of these landings were reported home to Paul’s parents in Clark at 26 Coldevin Road via the Dec. 8, 1944 edition of the Elizabeth Daily Journal, with a front-page headline that stated “Newly Landed Yanks Advance on Leyte.”

On Dec. 14, 1944 and Dec. 15, 1944 Paul’s outfit, the 305th Infantry Regiment, led the offensive out of the Ormoc beaches. As 400 American carrier planes struck Japanese installations on Luzon Island – 300 miles northwest of Leyte – the 77th swung left of the battleline above Cogon, a mile and a half north of Ormoc, and advanced seven miles in a wide flanking movement to within two miles from Valencia, headquarters of Lt. Gen. Susuki, Japanese commander of the 35th Army.

Recently, I was able to peruse the more than 50-year-old original “after action reports” and the “unit reports”  – specifically report 10 – of Paul’s unit at the Suitland, Md. branch of the National Archives. As I touched and slowly read those declassified documents, I felt honored that I, and eventually you the reader, could somewhat share albeit slightly in the combat actions that would lead to Clark resident Pfc. Paul J. Clauss’s heroic battlefield death.

According to those reports, issued by Headquarters Company 305th Infantry, dated Dec. 14 and 15, 1944, the following is an accurate account 0f the activities of Paul’s unit – for those dates –  including his heroic actions for which he would give of his life to save a wounded soldier.

On Dec. 14 the 1st Battalion fire during the night and both the 1st and 2nd battalions received LMG fire in the early morning. The 2nd Battalion (Paul’s) knocked out a LMG with 4.2 mortar fire. At 9:03 a.m., Colonel Freeman issued an attack order. The attack was preceded by artillery and 4.2 mortar fire on a  three-story, stone-and-concrete blockhouse that was a stronghold of the enemy. The blockhouse was across the Antilac River in front of the 2nd and 3rd battalions, and was impeding their forward movement. Paul’s unit continued the attack with the support of 11 M-8 self-propelled guns and M-10 tank destroyers to clean out the remaining enemy that were cut off by the 1st Battalion’s seizure of another Japaneses strong point. Paul’s company spearheaded an attack against fox holes, spider holes and two pill boxes. After reaching their objective, they dug in for the night while under fire.

On Dec. 15, at 7:15 a.m., 1st Battalion reported that four Japanese trucks, a tank, and 17 Japanese troops had been knocked out north of Cogan during the night by artillery fire. 2nd Battalion – Paul's – had two counter attacks, both of which were repulsed with 28 enemy killed. The American attack continued at 8:30 a.m., progressing slowly against strong resistance. The remainder of the day was spent in the reduction of the now encircled enemy garrison. Their- determination to resist was overcome only by the stubbornness of the Americans. On that day tanks and tank destroyers, M8s, and anti-tank guns became available and were brought forward for the infantry’s support. Thousands of shells, in addition to those from the already supporting artillery and chemical and infantry mortars, riddled the position ahead of the American advance. At 3:30 p.m. there was a Japanese counter attack between the 1st and 2nd battalions which was beaten off. As night came, the front line had been straightened by the elimination of an enemy pocket in front of the 2nd Battalion. The regiment consolidated its gains and presented a continuous front to the enemy.

In the fighting of Dec. 15, 2,153 of the enemy were killed and five prisoners were taken. The 305th stood a loss of 82 American dead and 296 wounded. Among the dead that day – his birthday – was Pfc. Paul J. Clauss.

Paul was the victim of enemy machine gun fire while coming to the aid and saving the life of fellow G. Company soldier Sgt. William Eldridge. The sergeant had been wounded in the leg and was rescued by Paul before he was killed.

Another Clark resident “Fallen Hero" giving his life for his country. For his heroic actions Paul would be awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart posthumously.

On Jan. 22, 1945 the Daily Journal reported the death of Paul with a headline of “Pfc. Paul Clauss Killed On Leyte.” The ensuing article mentioned among other items that Paul’s parents received notice of his death via telegram.

Eventually on Sept. 18, 1948 – almost four years later – his body arrived home and was buried in St. Gertrude’s Cemetery on Inman Avenue in Colonia.

How about this! Paul’s Gold Star Mother, Catherine, passed away on Dec. 5, 1993 at the grand old age of 100 years old! She is buried with her husband, Paul, and son, Paul, at St. Gertrude's.

As 'I’ve said previously, with all of Clark's “Fallen Heroes," when you get a chance to go on over to the cemetery and visit Paul in Section 35-B-71. When you locate him, come to "attention" and give him a crisp "salute." Then after "ordern arms" do an "about face" and walk over to the graves of three other Clark "Fallen Heroes" also buried there – Sgt. Joseph Witkowski, World War II, Section 19-311, killed at St. Lo Franch, July 9, 1944; Sp. 4 Kenneth Kusdiel, Vietnam, Section 13-1101, killed Feb. 11, 1968; and John P. Winters, Vietnam, Section 19-129A, killed May 25, 1969.

They shall not be forgotten.

They are the "Fallen Heroes."

See a full list of Clark's Fallen Heroes in our gallery, above right.

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