USMC veteran shot by robbers laid to rest

Antipodean Andy · Jun 23, 2009

http://www.gainesville.com/article/...-II-veteran-is-remembered-with-laughter-tears

Friends and family remembered Clair C. Chaffin with some laughter and many tears Monday. The 83-year-old from Archer was at rest.

Chaffin, a medical corpsman with the 4th Marine Division, earned a Silver Star in the Pacific campaign that closed out World War II. He died June 8, shot and killed by two young robbers outside a motel in Florence, S.C.

Hundreds gathered for a memorial service at Trinity United Methodist Church, and many came in uniform. Among the others, many of them of Chaffin's generation, you could spot the spit-shined shoes, regulation haircuts and straight posture of those who were ex-military.

A band of brothers had come together to say goodbye to one of their own.

The Rev. Dan Johnson of Trinity described the Clair Chaffin he knew - not the war hero, but a fellow who liked to refer to himself as "a little ol' country boy."

"But, oh, what an impression he made on those who knew him," Johnson said.

One of Chaffin's grandsons, Jim Dow, spoke on behalf of the family, which includes daughters Kathleen Dow, Mary Rhodes and Alice Thompson, their children and grandchildren, and Chaffin's three siblings.

"On June 8," Dow said, "we lost our role model, our mentor and the rock our family was built on, all in the blink of an eye."

Dow said Chaffin had been increasingly troubled that "our nation was turning its back on morality, turning away from patriotism."

That made it particularly difficult that Chaffin, who was traveling north to a 4th Marine Division Association event in Virginia, should be shot, police say, by a 25-year-old and his 16-year-old accomplice, who held him up for his wallet as he was packing his car outside the Thunderbird Inn.

"He always took care of everyone around him, including strangers," Dow said. "That's what made this tragedy so sad."

Within 24 hours, South Carolina authorities had arrested the two suspects, who have been charged with murder.

Dow took a moment Monday to read the names of the members of law enforcement who had assisted in the arrest.

A second grandson, Mike Rhodes, spoke on behalf of his own mother, Mary.

"Company was always included in our family activities," Rhodes said. He said his mother recalled the many times during family trips when Chaffin would pull over to help someone broken down on the side of the road.

"Since he had no boys, he expected us to be tough as boys," Mary said through her son. "He never talked about the war with us (his three daughters) until we were grown up."

Mike Rhodes paused to say his grandpa was "not just good people; he was the example good people follow."

Roy Earle preceded Chaffin as president of the 4th Marine Division Association. Like other veterans of the bloody campaign in the Pacific, Earle is now in his 80s. He described "Doc" Chaffin as his best buddy. Even though Earle lives in Maine, the two talked several times a week.

"At annual reunions, they liked to call us the Bobbsey twins," Earle recalled. Both were about 5-foot-4 when the average recruit was at least 5-foot-8.

"Doc always signed off the same way," Earle said. "He'd say, 'Love you all. Remember to have fun.'"

Lt. Gen. Lawrence F. Snowden retired from the Marine Corps after more than 37 years' active service, the last years of which were served as chief of staff, Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps. He also has served as president of the 4th Marine Division Association.

He never met "Doc" Chaffin on Iwo Jima, where Snowden was a 23-year-old commanding 18- and 19-year-old troops. The two met later through the association.

Technically, Chaffin was a Navy corpsman assigned to the Marine division, but as the general said, "He truly loved his Marines."

Chaffin was typical of the young men he commanded, Snowden said. Some of those fighting their way across the bloody beaches of Iwo Jima were just 16, having lied about their age to go to war.

"They guaranteed for us the freedoms that we enjoy today," Snowden said. "We should all remember that freedom is never free."

Daughter Alice Thompson received the flag on behalf of the Chaffin family. The service ended with both the Navy and Marine hymns.

And, of course, with taps. Chaffin will be interred at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell.

His buddy Roy Earle summed up the day, saying, "We're here for one final salute to a Marine.

"Semper fidelis."
Click to expand...

liverpool annie · Jun 23, 2009

God love him ! ... what a way for him to die - after all he had been through ......

RIP Clair C. Chaffin

Log in or Sign up

USMC veteran shot by robbers laid to rest

Antipodean Andy New Member

liverpool annie New Member

Share This Page

Log in or Sign up

USMC veteran shot by robbers laid to rest

Thread Tools

Antipodean Andy New Member

liverpool annie New Member

Share This Page

Useful Searches