Rites Conducted for Puckett Twins
One of the most unusual stories of World War II, closed its final chapter here Wednesday when reburial services were held for twin brothers, Clifton and Clifford Puckett, who lost their lives defending and recapturing Corregidor.
Services were conducted at the First Methodist Church with Rev. L.L.Hill, officiating, at 10 a.m., Wednesday. Military graveside services were conducted at Post, Texas, at 12:30 p.m. under the direction of the Williams-Puckett Post No. 161 of the American Legion.
Interment was in POST Cemetery under the direction of Campbell's Funeral Home.
The story began in May of 1942 with the fall of the tiny island off the tip of Bataan peninsula in the Phillipines. Clifford D. Puckett of Spur, who had been serving with the U.S. Air Force near Manila at the outbreak of war, was among those Americans who had withdrawn to Corregidor for a last-ditch defense, and who were taken prisoners by the Japanese when Gen. Jonathan Wainwright surrendered.
Puckett had contracted malaria during those final weeks of resistance on Bataan and Corregidor, and about two weeks after his capture died of the disease in a prison camp on the island fortress.
(following bad microfilm place, I think it is explaining the renaming of the American Legions post to include the Puckett name) �..The first Dickens county �����of World War�����. post of�������.the American Legion of Spur, originally�������. The first Dickens county resident killed in World War I, later was named Williams-Puckett post�..
Continuation of article:
Almost three years after Clifford's death, his twin, Clifton L., was killed as American forces recaptured Corregidor. Clifton, a paratrooper, was wounded by enemy rifle fire February 24, 1945, and died the next day aboard a hospital ship enroute to Manila. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action during the attack, and also the Purple Heart.
The twins, who were born October 31, 1911, both were buried in U.S. Armed Forces Cemetery No. 2 on the outskirts of Manila. Recently their remains were shipped to the United States to be reinterred.
Survivors include two sisters, Mrs. E.J. Smith and Mrs. H.F. Teague, both of Spur; and five brothers, Albert of Palanda, Calif., Olen Bert of Pasadena, Calif., Olen E. of Clarksville, Basil of Post, and H.W. Of Lubbock
The Texas Spur, January 6, 1949
Transcribed June 7, 2005 by DCHC Members
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