Clemente Family Album

LCDR WILLIAM J. CLEMENTE 1926-2006

OSWEGO - LCDR William Joseph Clemente (USN Ret.), born to Col. William W. Clemente (USA), and Barbara Clemente on May 15, 1926, died Sept. 12, 2006 at his home.

Clemente entered the naval service in October 1943 and took part in action in the Pacific Theatre. He served during the Korean War and later in the Vietnam theater. Noteworthy assignments in his 30 year naval career included numerous tours in the elite naval special warfare unit known as the ?Beach Jumpers.? The Beach Jumper units were highly secretive tactical deception and psychological operations units founded in World War II by Douglas Fairbanks Jr. These units later became the modern SEAL teams. He served in these units both as an enlisted man and as an officer.

Significant assignments as a Beach Jumper included Commanding Officer Beach Jumper Unit 1 Coronado NAB; assistant officer in charge Naval Special Warfare Group Vietnam, attached to Commander of Naval Forces, Vietnam, commanding all Navy SEAL, UDT, boat support and Beach Jumper units; assistant officer in charge Naval Special Warfare Group Western Pacific Detachment Okinawa, Japan.

Clemente was a qualified naval parachutist, scuba diver, demolition, unconventional warfare and jungle warfare expert. Clemente's numerous personal and unit awards include the Silver Star, Bronze Star with Valor device and Purple Heart.

Following his naval career, Clemente worked as a warehouse supervisor for Stone and Webster until his retirement in 1988. Since his retirement, he has lived in seclusion in Spooky Woods Farm, Southwest Oswego.

He is survived by Dr. William A. Clemente and his wife Dr. Linda Clemente; Keith P. Clemente and his fianc?e, Tammy; Maj. Timothy M. Clemente (USA) and his wife Anita Clemente; Ann L. Nyswonger and her husband David Nyswonger; Stacia A. Aspenwall and her fianc? John; Jean E. Majercin and her husband Larry Majercin; his wife, Kim Anh Clemente; Maj. Anthony T. Clemente (USA) and his wife Cpt. Bonnie B. Clemente (USA); and Jacqueline G. Clemente and her husband W01 Keith Lattman (USMC); sisters, Bernice Starace of Lutz, Fla. and family, and Barbara ?Babs? Tucker and her predeceased husband Maj. (USMC Ret.) E.S. Tucker of Westmore, Vt. and family.

Funeral services are private and at the convenience of the family.

There are no calling hours.

Arrangements are in care of Dowdle Funeral Home.

Source: Palladium Times, The (Oswego, NY)
Date: Sept 13, 2006
Section: Obituaries