Robert Clapp

Robert G. Clapp

Col., USMC (Ret.)

Starkville

On April 27, 2011 at 2:00 P. M. the United States Marine Corps will lay to rest one of its "Few Good Men" with full military honors at Barrancus National Cemetery in Pensacola, Florida. The public is invited, and a memorial flyover is planned.

Retired Colonel Robert G. "Bob" Clapp was born in New Haven, Connecticut on September 23, 1936 to the late Robert Temple Clapp and Marianne Blakeslee Clapp of Starkville, Mississippi. He died of complications from COPD at his home in Chelan, Washington on February 4, 2011. An Eagle Scout and avid outdoorsman, Bob enlisted in the Mississippi Army National Guard on his seventeenth birthday and upon graduation with honors from Starkville High School joined the Marine Corps, completing basic training at Parris Island, N. C. As a Radio Telegraph Operator at Camp Lejuene, N. C., he received the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Expert Rifleman award. Upon honorable discharge, he rejoined the National Guard, and while attending Mississippi State University he completed OCS at Ft. Sill, OK and was commissioned 2nd Lt. in the Army National Guard. Upon graduation from MSU with a B. S. in mathematics, he returned to the Marine Corps to become a commissioned Naval Aviator. Col. Clapp got his wings at Pensacola NAS, FL and flew several Marine jet aircraft, serving two combat tours in Viet Nam flying F-4 attack fighters. With experience in various staff, safety officer, and command positions in the United States and Korea, he transitioned from jets to helicopters, served a third tour in Viet Nam, developed new combat tactics for the Cobra, and was the first Marine selected to command a U. S. Navy training squadron. Following that historic service as commander of Helicopter Training Squadron 18 at Whiting Field, FL, Col. Clapp took command of Marine Aviation Training Support Group 90 at Millington NAS, TN, where he declined to pursue higher rank in a Pentagon assignment and instead retired after 32 years of continuous service.

Col. Clapp's other decorations include the Viet Nam Service Medal (6 stars), Air Medal Strike Flight (numeral 21), Viet Nam Campaign Medal (1960 device), Navy Unit Commendation (2 stars), Presidential Unit Citation (1 star), Combat Action Ribbon, Viet Nam Cross of Gallantry, Meritorious Unit Citation (1 Palm), Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (Combat V), Viet Nam Meritorious Unit Citation (Civil Action Colors 1st Class), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1 star), Meritorious Unit Commendation (2 stars), Sea Service Deployment ribbon (1 star), Humanitarian Service Medal (numeral 2), and the coveted Legion of Merit.

In retirement, Bob enjoyed fishing, boating, snowmobiling, volunteer Scouting, and tending to apple trees and equipment on his homestead where he loved and buried many good dogs. He was a member of the Lake Chelan Boat Club, where a Celebration of Life was held in his honor, and a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. In later years, he corresponded with numerous friends daily by email, sharing his writings about life and politics and re-telling stories from his military experiences. Col. Clapp is survived by Nancy, his loyal wife of 43 years; daughters Lisa Ann Clapp of Destin, FL and Susan Gandy and husband Billy of Mooresville, N.C. and their sons, Chris and Nick; brother Roger Clifford Clapp, Col. USAFR (Ret.) and wife, Laura of Florence, MS and their sons, Dr. Roger C. Clapp, Jr. of Starkville, MS, Todd E. Clapp of Brandon, MS, USCG CWO Andrew B. Clapp of Slidell, LA, and Benjamin H. Clapp of Florence, MS; sister-in-law Mary Anderson of Chelan, WA and nieces Jennifer Workman of Spokane, WA and Jessica Musser of Wenatchie, WA. Memorials are welcome to be sent to the local Marine Toys for Tots efforts, The American Humane Society, or to a favorite charity.