Colclasure, Opal Wayne

1923 - 1976  (52 years)

• Name	Colclasure, Opal Wayne
  Birth	5 Apr 1923  [1]
  Gender	Male
  Reference Number	COLC.O001
  _FGRAVE	57610010
  Military Service	Korean War, Sergeant, United States Army  [1]
  		United States of America Flag, 48 Stars (1912-1959) In 1912, two stars were added to the United States flag, representing Arizona and New Mexico, bringing the total number of stars to 48. They were arranged in six rows of eight stars each. American fighting men would fight under this flag during four wars: World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the beginning of the Vietnam War. (In 1959,…
  		United States Army Prior to the establishment of the "Department of the Army Emblem", there was no official display item to identify the Army. The Seal had traditionally been used to authenticate documents only and was not authorized for public display. In recognizing the need to provide a display item, the Secretary of the Army approved the emblem design as the…
  		United States Army
  		Sergeant (abbreviated as Sgt.), United States Army (Combat Arms) (Aug 1948-Feb 1951) In the Korean War era, this rank was called "Sergeant". There was no 3 stripe Sergeant insignia during this period.
  		United States Army Enlisted Rank Insignia
  		Korean War (1950-1953)
  		Korea
  Military Service	World War II, Technician Fourth Grade, 42nd Engineer Battalion, United States Army  [1, 2]
  	With 1 year and near 2 months prior service, enlisted in the Regular Army on January 12, 1946 while stationed in Korea. Returned to the states for 6 months, then reassigned to and served as an Automotive Mechanic (military occupational specialty of 014) with the 42nd Engineer Battalion engaged in the occupation of Japan. Honorably discharged as a Technician Fourth Grade on July 7, 1947 at Camp Stoneman, California. Earned The Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, and the Army Of Occupation Medal (Japan). This information has been posted on the National World War II Memorial's Registry of Remembrances website by Robert Medley Gatewood. It is entered here with his permission. Source: https://wwiiregistry.abmc.gov/honoree-plaque/?honoree_id=2202370 Later served as a Sergeant, in the United States Army during the Korean War.
  		United States of America Flag, 48 Stars (1912-1959) In 1912, two stars were added to the United States flag, representing Arizona and New Mexico, bringing the total number of stars to 48. They were arranged in six rows of eight stars each. American fighting men would fight under this flag during four wars: World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the beginning of the Vietnam War. (In 1959,…
  		United States Army
  		Technician Fourth Grade, United States Army and United States Army Air Forces (Sep 1942-Aug 1948) This insignia was worn during World War II. The Technician ranks were removed from the U.S. Army rank system in 1948, although the concept was brought back with the Specialist ranks in 1955.
  		Technician Fourth Grade, United States Army and United States Army Air Forces (Sep 1942-Aug 1948) This insignia was worn during World War II. The Technician ranks were removed from the U.S. Army rank system in 1948, although the concept was brought back with the Specialist ranks in 1955.
  		United States Army Enlisted Rank Insignia
  		American Campaign Medal, United States Military
  		American Campaign Medal, United States
  		Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, United States Armed Forces
  		Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, United States Armed Forces
  		World War II Victory Medal, United States Military
  		World War II Victory Medal, United States Military
  		World War II (1939-1945)
  		Brochure, World War II Memorial, Flora, Illinois, Nov 11, 2007 On Veterans' Day, 2005, the city of Flora, Illinois dedicated a memorial to all known Clay County, Illinois World War II Veterans. Located on the south side of the city library, this is a copy of the brochure honoring that event. This 2007 brochure adds a matrix for locating the memorial brick that was laid in honor of each veteran. …
  Death	1 Jan 1976  [1]
  Burial	Lappin Cemetery, Wayne County, Illinois   [1]
  		Headstone, Colclasure, Opal W.
  		Headstone, Colclasure, Opal W.
  Person ID	I13294	Carl Wayne Gray Research
  Last Modified	1 Jun 2024

  
  

  Family	Smith, Henrietta Marie,   b. 1929   d. 1963 (Age 34 years)
  Marriage	Y  [3]
  Children	1. Colclasure, Jack Wayne,   b. 1 Apr 1949, Olney, Richland County, Illinois d. 22 Oct 2019 (Age 70 years)   2. Colclasure, Mariland Louise,   b. 27 Feb 1951, Elgin, Cook County, Illinois d. 20 Oct 2019, Deaconess Midtown Hospital, Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana (Age 68 years)   3. Colclasure, David Rose,   b. 1 Dec 1954, Fairfield, Wayne County, Illinois d. 15 Jul 2009, Regional Memorial Hospital, Hollywood, Broward County, Florida (Age 54 years)
  Family ID	F6260	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map

  Burial - - Lappin Cemetery, Wayne County, Illinois  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Sources

  [S3524] http://www.findagrave.com, Headstone, Colclasure, Opal W., (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/57610010/opal-w-colclasure), none. (Reliability: 2). [S3509] World War II Honoree, Opal W. Colclasure, (https://wwiiregistry.abmc.gov/honoree-plaque/?honoree_id=2202370) (Reliability: 2). [S13969] http://www.findagrave.com, Headstone, Colclasure, H. Marie, (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/57368927/h_marie-colclasure), none. (Reliability: 2).