Onnie Elsworth Clem Jr.'s Obituary
Onnie Clem, Jr., age 90 died August 9th, 2009 at the Veterans Administration Hospital, Dallas, TX. Onnie was born March 16, 1919, to Mariquita and Onnie Clem, Sr . of Dallas, who precede him in death. In early Dallas, Onnie’s Grandfather, James Rowe Clem opened Clem Lumber Co. and Grandfather; A. DeLorenzi owned the downtown ElMerito Pharmacy. In 1938, Onnie joined the U.S.Marine Corps. He was trained as a Radio Operator, then stationed at the U.S. Embassy in Pekin, China. War broke out in the Philippines and he volunteered for duty there instead of shipping home for discharge. He was in the battles of Bataan, Corregidor, and the infamous Bataan Death March. In POW Camps O’Donnell and Cabanatuan, he suffered as a Japanese prisoner for 2 1/2 years on the island of Mindanao before being rescued by an American submarine. In 1944 he received the warmest of welcomes from family and friends before reporting for duty in California. His assignment was to speak of his POW years to WWII shipbuilders and government suppliers around the country, raising money in the war bond effort. In San Francisco, Onnie met and married another Marine, Staff Sgt. C. L. Julian, USMCWR (Julie). They wed July 13, 1945. He is survived by wife, Julie; a sister M.L. Carothers of Cedar Park, TX, and a brother J. Mark Clem of Mesquite, TX. Two children, Julie Atcheson and Onnie E. Clem III and five Grandchildren; Amy Atcheson, Joshua Clem, Brooke Wibracht, Nicholas Clem, and Blair Atcheson. Memorial Service and Visitation at Restland Funeral Home, Wednesday August 12th, 6 to 8 PM. Graveside ceremony at DFW National Cemetery August 13th at 11:00 AM.
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