Roll Call Tribute

(Published in) The Schulenburg Sticker (on) November 26, 2014

Clem B. McKennon

Another of “The Greatest Generation” has died. Clem B. McKennon, age 99 and just six months from his goal of reaching the great age of 100, entered death in the early morning hours of Wednesday, November 5, 2014, at his home in Schulenburg, Texas.

On May 28, 1915, Clem was born to William Fleming McKennon and Sarah Arabella Coleman McKennon, in a farm house just north of where the East and West forks of the Navidad River come together in Lavaca County, Texas.  He was the younger brother of John Kenneth McKennon and William Douglas McKennon.

Clem went to school in Oakland, then in Schulenburg, traveling from the farm to school by Model T or horseback.  He graduated from Schulenburg High School in 1933, and then enrolled at Texas A&M which, at that time, had an all-male student population, all of whom were members of the Corps of Cadets.  In 1937, Clem graduated with a degree in Agricultural Education.  After graduation, he went to work for the federal government helping Dust Bowl farmers and ranchers obtain loans to keep their operations going through the hard years.

A very low draft number encouraged Clem to enter the military, where he planned to go through basic training and then go back to work until, or if, called to serve further.  He was just finishing basic training when Pearl Harbor was attacked and the United States entered World War II, and so was not released.  Clem then entered training to become a pilot of the B-17, surely the greatest airplane in the world at the time, a plane that could be shot to shreds and still fly to bring its crew home, a plane that, in his words, could be counted on to give a crew its best - or its only - chance of coming back alive from a combat mission.

In the Spring of 1943, Clem and his B-17 crew boarded a ship bound for England. He was assigned to the 92nd Bomb Group, 327th Squadron, based in Podington, England, and later, also to the 305th Bomb Group in Chelveston, England. His second combat mission, on October 14, 1943, became known as the “Second Schweinfurt” or “Black Thursday” because it resulted in horrendous losses. Clem’s plane was so badly damaged that he landed it in a field just after crossing the English shore. The plane, on its first mission, never flew again.  Clem flew a total of 31 combat missions.

One notable mission was on May 28, 1944, Clem’s 29th birthday, when he was lead pilot of a contingent of 1,300 planes – the entire Eighth Air Force – with the mission’s Air Commander sitting as co-pilot.  This one day of the air war is amazingly well chronicled in a book by Ivo de Jong of the Netherlands, titled “Mission 376: Battle Over the Reich, 28 May 1944.”

Finding himself restless after the war and unable to settle down to an office job, Clem searched for a job that would get him out and about. He answered an ad placed in the San Antonio newspaper by the U.S. Department of Agriculture which, in 1947, was looking for men with horseback and cattle experience to ride the Rio Grande as part of a federal effort to eliminate hoof and mouth disease in the United States. Clem was hired, and told to show up in Del Rio in two days with a horse and a trailer.  His job as a “River Rider” was to prevent stray animals from entering the United States by patrolling the banks of the Rio Grande on horseback. It was during a rare weekend in town that Clem met and then married Jessie Esarey, and in the process gained a daughter, Carol. Following their marriage, Clem and Jessie had four more children, Clay, Donna, Dean, and Jo Nell. They lived along the Texas-Mexico border and the California-Mexico border during Clem’s career with the USDA.

Retirement time found Clem and Jessie moving to his hometown, Schulenburg, Texas. With Jessie riding shotgun and acting as all-around cowboy, they spent over 38 years running cattle, out in the sunshine and fresh air.

It was only a few years ago that Clem had to give up the cattle and that was when he started sitting down in the rocking chair – most reluctantly. His mind was sharp and full of desire to get out there and work with his hands, but his body had been worked hard in its lifetime and was tired and worn out.

Clem was laid to rest in a pecan wood casket, with several pecans in his pocket, his father’s favorite pocket knife in his hands, and a red handkerchief tucked into another pocket. Visitation was at Schwenke-Baumgarten Funeral Home in Schulenburg the evening of Friday, November 7, 2014. During an honor service by the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars during the visitation, a red poppy was added to his lapel.  The funeral service was held at 10 a.m., Saturday, November 8, 2014, with Chaplain Charlie Flanagan conducting the service which included remembrances by family. The songs “Cool Water” and “Amazing Grace” were played and family friend Tim Walker played his guitar and sang “All is Well With My Soul.” Veterans’ honors were continued at graveside at City Cemetery in Hallettsville, with “Taps” and a 21-gun salute, and the presentation of a United States Flag to the family.

Clem is survived by his wife and best friend of 65 years, Jessie Esarey McKennon, daughter Donna Humke (Darrel), son Dean McKennon (Norma), daughter Jo Nell Cass (Tommy), grandchildren Scott Vickers (Heidi), Tracy Harrison (Brett), Wendy Batek (Jerry), Bryan Russell (Stefanie), George Picha (Laura), and Julie Humke. Great-grandchildren are Bailey Vickers, Rachel Vickers, Ben Vickers, Nathan Harrison, Callie Harrison, Jett Batek, Jagger Batek, McKennon Russell, and Carrington Russell.  

Clem was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, son Clay McKennon, daughter Carol Vickers, and great-grandson Zachary Vickers.

An empty place is now in our lives and hearts that cannot be filled, and we would not fill that space if we could.  The world is a better place because he lived.  His children and grandchildren are better people because of how he lived.