Raymond M. Clausen Jr.
Raymond Michael Clausen Jr. was a United States Marine who received the Medal of Honor for heroism in Vietnam in January 1970. On a mission to rescue Marines from a minefield, under heavy enemy fire, he carried out one dead and eleven wounded Marines, making six trips through the minefield until every Marine was extracted.
Biography
Clausen was born on October 14, 1947, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He graduated from Hammond High School (Louisiana) in 1965 and attended Southeastern Louisiana University for six months before enlisting in the [Marine Forces Reserve|U.S. Marine Corps Reserve] in New Orleans on March 30, 1966. He was discharged to enlist in the regular Marine Corps on May 27, 1966.Private Clausen received recruit training with the 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California, and individual combat training with the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Training Regiment at Camp Pendleton, California. He then completed Aviation Mechanical Fundamentals School and the Basic Helicopter Course at Naval Air Technical Training Center in Memphis, Tennessee.
He completed his training in April 1967 and was transferred to Marine Aircraft Group 26, Marine Corps Air Facility, New River, Jacksonville, North Carolina, where he served as a jet engine mechanic with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 365 and, later, as a guard with Marine Air Base Squadron 26.
In December 1967, Private First Class Clausen was ordered overseas to serve as a jet helicopter mechanic, which he did throughout his tour of active duty service. He joined the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, with Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron 36 (H&MS-36), Marine Aircraft Group 36 until September 1968, then with HMM-364, Marine Aircraft Group 16 until the following August. PFC Clausen then returned to the United States, where he joined Marine Aircraft Group 26 at Marine Corps Air Station New River for duty with HMM-261.
He began his second tour of duty in November 1969 with HMM-263, MAG-16, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific. On January 31, 1970, as part of a mission to rescue Marines who were stranded in a minefield near Da Nang, under heavy enemy fire, he made six trips out of his CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter through the minefield, carrying back eleven wounded Marines and one dead until the last Marine was accounted for.
On August 19, 1970, upon his return to the United States, he was released from active duty at the rank of PFC.
On June 15, 1971, he was presented the Medal of Honor by President Richard M. Nixon in a ceremony at the White House.
Private First Class Clausen died at the age of 56 on May 30, 2004, at Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, due to liver failure. He was buried at Ponchatoula Cemetery in Ponchatoula, Louisiana, with full military honors.
Awards and decorations
A complete list of his medals and decorations include: the United States Marine Corps Combat Aircrew Badge, the Medal of Honor, the Air Medal ; the Combat Action Ribbon; the Purple Heart; the Presidential Unit Citation; the Good Conduct Medal; the National Defense Service Medal; the Vietnam Service Medal with one silver star and one bronze star; the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry">Vietnam War">Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm; the Vietnam Campaign Medal with device; and the Rifle Sharpshooter Badge.Medal of Honor citation
The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pleasure in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR tofor service as set forth in the following CITATION:
/S/ RICHARD M. NIXON