December 7th marks the day of the 1941 surprise attack by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor. Roy Clarke of Lake Landing has a passion for collecting WWII history and biographies of Hyde County folks that served. His work of over 25 years documents where they were during combat, their immediate circumstances and the effects and outcome of the battles. He also follows, when possible, where the WWII veterans live or are buried and family connections. Through his work, one feels connected to the souls who endured the attack on Pearl Harbor and who fought in WWII to protect our freedom.

Clarke’s interest in WWII history is very understandable. Besides serving in the war himself, his father Edward Royden Clarke was Chief Quarter Master on the USS Lardner DD487 during the war.  Prior to that, his father already had 21 years in the Navy and was a recruiting officer in Miami, Fla. He had served on the USS Dixie, built in 1893. A story in itself, this ship was in commission as an auxiliary cruiser from 1898 to 1899, as a training ship from 1899 to 1902, as a transport from 1903 to 1905 and from 1906 to 1907 and as a destroyer tender from 1909 to 1922. Edward Royden Clarke was on destroyers all his life and was known respectively as a “tin can man”.

As I sit in Mr. Clarke’s writing and research corner, one cannot overlook the many WWII history books. He informs me he has files on over 600 men, most of which are stored away in boxes. He collects information in the way of photographs, old news articles and personal stories from those who have served and many hours of online research. It is his hope that there will be an occasion for a public forum or gathering of WWII veterans and enthusiasts to recall and to learn more of stories past. Any person interested to know more or to share local WWII history should call Roy Clarke at 252-925-4641 or email erclarke210@gmail.com.