Clement Van Wagoner
Clement Van Wagoner
Clement Van Wagoner was born in 1914 and was a life-long resident of Alpena. He was drafted into the US Army as an enlisted soldier in March 1941, before attending Officer Candidate School and becoming a commissioned officer. His military service spanned three decades. During World War II, he served in combat for 600 days with the 1st Infantry Division (the Big Red One), seeing action in North Africa as part of Operation Torch, in Sicily, and at Omaha Beach on D-Day. Clem fought across the beaches, in the bloody Battle of Aachen, through France, and in the Battle of the Bulge. Lieutenant and, later, Captain Van Wagoner was wounded five times (although he received only three Purple Hearts), testifying to his courage and leadership under fire. He also received four Silver Star medals, seven Bronze Star medals, the Combat Infantry Badge, and numerous other awards and decorations. He has been cited as the most decorated soldier born in Michigan.
After the war, the Governor of Michigan specifically asked VanWagoner to re-establish and lead a National Guard unit in Alpena. He served faithfully over the next twenty years, concluding his long and distinguished service as a battalion commander and retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Clement Van Wagoner died in 2007 at age 93..