Michael Joseph Clemens

Michael “Doc” Joseph Clemens lived in Dubuque his entire life. He graduated from Wahlert High School in the class of 1965. Clemens joined the Navy the fall after graduation in Des Moines. He trained to be a hospitalman (HN) with the Navy then was transferred to the Marine Corps due to the lack of medical personnel. HN Clemens started his Vietnam tour in November 1966 with the 1st Marine Division, known by his Marine comrades as “Doc.” His unit participated in Operation Condor by sweeping west along the Vu Gia River when it engaged a VC force near the Ban Tan village complex in Dai Loc District on January 9, 1967. HN Clemens was killed by enemy small arms fire, along with three other Marines. The 20-year-old’s body was returned to Iowa and buried at the Mount Calvary Cemetery in Dubuque.