Clyde B. Gaskins
Staff Sergeant
Company A, 128th Infantry
United States Army
1942-1945

Two Purple Hearts

      Clyde B. Gaskins was born 17 February 1918 in the Rose Community.  His parents were June and Katie Shavers Gaskins.  Clyde had two brothers, Arthur H. and J. H.   He received his education in the Rose School and the Woodruff County and  St. Francis County Schools.  He was engaged in farming after school and prior to being inducted.
    Clyde entered the United States Army 6 January 1942 at Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Arkansas.  After completing basic training at Camp Roberts, California, he departed 27 April 1942 for the Asiatic Pacific Theater of Operations.  His Military Occupational Specialty was Rifle NCO.  He participated in the campaigns to liberate the Southern Philippines, Luzon and Papua, New Guinea in 1945.  The battles were intense and Clyde was wounded two times. The first time he was wounded 18 November 1944 and the second wounds were received 18 May 1945. The Army conferred upon him the Purple Heart 7 December 1944 and the Oak Leaf Cluster to the Purple Heart was awarded 26 July 1945 at the 132nd General Hospital.  He left the Pacific Theater and arrived in the States 17 August 1945 and was discharged 6 November 1945. at Brooke Army Hospital, Texas.  In addition to the Purple Heart, he was awarded the World War II Victory Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Medal, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon, the Good Conduct Medal and the Distinguished Unit Badge plus  he qualified for the Combat Infantryman Badge 7 September 1944.
    After the service, Clyde returned to Wynne, Arkansas.  Seven months later, he moved to Little Rock.  He married Esther Marie Webber and they had two children, Leonard and Brenda.  Clyde studied Accounting and became a Certified Public Accountant.  He and Esther live in Little Rock and instead of  retiring and doing nothing, Clyde is still working as a Tax Consultant and finds it stimulating, especially at tax preparation time.  His hobbies are fishing and hunting.