CHARLES L. CLAYBOURN

1946 - 2016

PNCM(SW/AW)CHARLES L. CLAYBOURN USN (Ret.)

CLEMMONS, NC - On 21 January 2016 Master Chief Charles Lance Claybourn slipped under the waves to join a host of sailors gone before him. He was 69.

Master Chief Claybourn was born 13 July 1946 to the late CWO3 Charles V. and Genevieve M. Claybourn in the Naval Hospital Philadelphia, PA. He spent his youth traveling as a Navy dependent and those travels ended in Kingsport, TN and thereafter called that home. He graduated from Holston High School and attended East Tennessee State University for a short time following.

In January of 1964, at the age of 17, Master Chief Claybourn enlisted in the United States Navy and during his 33 year career he served aboard 9 ships and visited 89 countries. Master Chief Claybourn saw action in 4 theatres; Da Nang Republic of VietNam, Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Bosnia and Somalia. Other duty stations included the Pentagon; the Bureau of Naval Personnel and Officer in Charge of Naval Personnel at Marine Corps Base Quantico. Master Chief Claybourn spent his last 8 years in Norfolk and Virginia Beach, VA serving as command master chief aboard 3 ships, Squadron Master Chief Naval Amphibious Squadron 10 and Group Master Chief Naval Amphibious Group 2. His counsel and leadership throughout his Naval service helped mold innumerable sailors and junior officers on their respective career paths and was highly respected by officers and enlisted alike. He has long been considered a 'sailor's sailor' and was referenced by many as their 'Sea Daddy'. The best which can be said about his life as a sailor is that it was full of 'Blood and Swash' and salt water ran in his veins.

After retiring from the Navy in October 1996, Master Chief Claybourn was employed by American Veterans (AMVETS) as a National Service Officer at the VA Regional Office in Winston-Salem, NC in which he assisted veterans, widows and families with various claims through the Department of Veteran Affairs. He traveled throughout North Carolina doing pre and post deployment briefs to National Guard and Reserve Units in order to educate troops as to the benefits which may be available. In addition, he worked closely with the United Way, Experiment in Self Reliance, along with local and national elected officials to keep veterans issues at the forefront. He retired in April of 2007, but remained active in advising veterans with claims concerning the VA.

Master Chief Claybourn was passionate about Veterans and Veterans issues. The Master Chief spearheaded the resurrection of the Forsyth County Veterans Council, reinstated the Winston-Salem Veterans Day Parade and remained at its forefront for 15 years. He was active in many Veterans Organizations: AMVETS Post 777, American Legion Post 55, VFW Post 1134, Fleet Reserve Association Branch 217, 40&8, Triad Chief Petty Officers Association, National Chief Petty Officers Association, NC AMVETS Foundation, Destroyer Escort Association, United American Patriots and several ships' groups. In 2009, Master Chief Claybourn and a small group of Veterans, were the impedes behind the creation of Winston-Salem's transitional housing project for at risk homeless Veterans, Veterans Helping Veterans Heal (VHVH, Inc.). He was also instrumental in the development of the Post 911 GI Bill. Most recently, he became involved with Concerned Veterans for America whose mission is to advocate for Veterans issues through policy and legislation in Washington, D.C.

Immediate family who will remember him are his wife, Mary; daughter, Stephanie Leigh Drumm (Rob) their sons, Aiden and Caleb from Fredericksburg, VA; son, Charles William Claybourn (Helen) his daughter, Kaydence and stepchildren, Destiny and Zack. Siblings: Suzanne Marie Upp (Edward) from Lancaster, OH; Steven Lynn Claybourn (Joan) from Cincinnati, OH; David Mark Claybourn from Paducah, KY and Anne Michelle Scott from Lancaster, OH. He will also be remembered by a myriad of nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

The final deployment of Master Chief Claybourn has been sharply felt by family, friends and shipmates and will be long remembered for his dedication to Veterans and service to our country. Per his request, he will be cremated and buried at sea. A memorial and wake are forthcoming and will be announced at a later date.

Crossing the Bar

Sunset and evening star,

And one clear call for me!

And may there be no moaning of the bar,

When I put out to sea,

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,

Too full for sound and foam,

When that which drew from out the boundless deep

Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,

And after that the dark!

And may there be no sadness or farewell,

When I embark;

For tho' from out our bourne of Time and Place

The flood may bear me far,

I hope to see my Pilot face to face

When I have crost the bar.

~Alfred, Lord Tennyson~

Fair Winds and Following Seas, Master Chief, your Watch stands relieved.