In Memorial

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Archie Clapp

SEMPER FI COLONEL!

Col. Archie J. Clapp, USMC (Ret)

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA

Archie J. Clapp, 80, 1117 Vera Cruz Court, died May 15 at Sentara Leigh Hospital in Norfolk. Born on August 30, 1923, in Greensboro, North Carolina, he was raised in Miami, Florida.

He retired as a Colonel from the United States Marine Corps in 1969 after a distinguished career. Clapp served as a carrier-based fighter pilot during World War II. In 1949, he trained as one of the earliest Marine jet fighter pilots. He also became one of the initial Marine helicopter pilots in 1951, and, following his service in the Korean War, he engaged in development work for the emerging helicopter component of Marine Corps aviation. Clapp commanded HMM-362, the first Marine helicopter squadron in Vietnam, and a group which came to be known as "Archie's Angels". Besides receiving unit commendations and campaign medals for his service in three wars, he was individually awarded the Legion of Merit twice, the Distinguished Flying Cross three times and nine Air Medals. Clapp held a number of command and staff billets during his Marine Corps career, the last being on the staff of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Pentagon.

After his retirement from the military, Clapp served on the staff of the American Ordnance Association (later renamed the American Defense Preparedness Association) for six years and as CEO of the Wholesale Florists and Florist Suppliers of America (WF&FSA) for twenty-three years. While with WF&FSA, he was also the United States delegate to Union Fleurs, the Europe-based association of the national wholesale floral organizations. Upon his retirement from the floral industry, he relocated to Virginia Beach. He remained active in Marine aviation organizations and was recently inducted into "The Golden Eagles" of The Early and Pioneer Naval Aviators Association.

Clapp is survived by wife Shirley B. Clapp; sister Mary Harvey of Miami, Florida; four children, six grandchildren, and one great-grandchild by his previous marriage; two step-daughters and their families; predeceased by two children from his previous marriage. A memorial service will be held at Smith and Williams Funeral Home, 4889 Princess Anne Road, Virginia Beach, on May 18 at 11:00 a.m. Interment at Arlington National Cemetery is planned. Memorial contributions may be made to the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program or the Princess Anne Courthouse Volunteer Rescue Squad in Virginia Beach.

This photo is worth a thousand words

Received from Bob Skinder, HMM-362:
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from Jim Perryman:
HMM-362's flowers arrived in good order. Thanks! We were fortunate in having "Wimpy" Wimmler and his wife serve as our ambassadors at the Memorial Service day-before-yesterday. The following is Wimpy's after action report:

"Angels,

The memorial started at 1100 and was over at 1130. I arrived before everyone else and had time to look over things. There were about 12 bouquets of beautiful flowers from friends, children, plus one from the YL-37 Group and ours from HMM-362. Did not read the card on the flowers, because the envelopes were sealed. There may have been another floral arrangement that came in later. Shirley and one of her daughters and family arrived. I stood in the background until she read the YL-37 card. She didn't know what that was, so then I said hello; she knew me and was extremely appreciative that I was there; and I related to her that YL-37 was the Helo Archie flew in Okla. a year or so ago.

About 100 people arrived. Outside of the family, I was the second youngest there. The youngest was a man who now has the CEO billet that Archie once held in the Flower company.

There was a reception at the Atlantic Beach Retirement Community, where they lived, which was very nice. I met Archie's sons and daughters. For some reason they, his sons, had heard of me. Jerry eulogized his father. Found out that Archie altered his birth certificate so that he could join the Marine Corps at 17. Another son, Jeff, had been a Marine. Since I had some commemorative coins left over from our 2002 get-together, I gave each daughter and son one as a remembrance of Archie's Angels. Also met the widow of Jerry who passed away in March. The family all related that Joe Eke was wonderful. Thanx Joe for representing the Angels at Jerry's funeral....I might add that the Skipper was dressed in a business suit -- with a set of small gold wings and his DFC pin on his lapel. Inside the lid of the casket was a large Marine Corps Emblem.

Shirley is worried about burial at Arlington. The date is a problem for all the family to get together again. I hope Julia and I can make the burial at Arlington.

Semper Fi
Wimpy"

Re Interment: attached is the obituary promulgated by the funeral home. Please note that the time and date for burial at Arlington has been set for 1100 14 July (an understandably large backlog because of Iraq). Also, for those interested, please go to the funeral home's website at www.smithandwilliamsfuneralhome.com click on "Obituaries" in left menu, then click on "Archie J. Clapp". This will give one the opportunity to sign the "Guest Book" (bar at bottom of page).

Please pass this on to the guys, and thanks, Lew!

Semper Fi,
Jim
jimpman@erols.com

This photo of Archie's funeral from Dave Hugel.