Clark Joe Pittman was born on January 2, 1927 to parents Arcie and Mary Pittman in Fullerton, California. By the time he enlisted in the Marines in Los Angeles on January 12, 1944, his mother was re-married to Paul Geschke.
Pittman was part of the Military Police Co. Guard Bn., Camp Pendleton, California. He left from San Diego on the USAT Howell Lykes and arrived at Hilo, Hawaii on September 16, 1944, then sailed to Pearl Harbor and arrived September 18, 1944. He made PFC on December 31, 1944 at which point he was part of the Military Police Company, 8th Field Depot. Pittman participated in the invasion of Iwo Jima between February 24, 1945 and April 11, 1945 as a Military Policeman. On April 11, 1945, he embarked on the USS Queens, APA 103, and sailed to Hilo arriving on April 25, 1945. On August 30, 1945 he sailed on the USS Fond Du Lac, APA 166, and arrived and Sasebo, Japan on September 24, 1945. He was discharged June 1, 1946.
Prior to his Korean service, he married his wife, Dorothy Olsen on February 3, 1950. He re-enlisted in the Marines January 2, 1951 in Los Angeles. His rank is listed as Corporal. He trained at Camp Pendleton in the spring and the joined the 7th Marines on May 7, 1951.He began service in Korea on May 5, 1951.
Just a month later, Cpl. Pittman was killed in action on June 9, 1951 near Chungganch'on, Korea, and was buried initially in the UN Military Cemetery, Tanggok, Korea. He was re-interred in Sunnyside Memorial Park Cemetery, Long Beach, California on November 8, 1951
Corporal Pitman's group includes his posthumous officially engraved solid brooch Type 2 Purple Heart and its short titled presentation box. He was also entitled to the Combat Action ribbon, Korean Service medaL, UN Service medal and Republic of Korea War Service medal. Because of his WW2 service, Cpl. Pittman would have been awarded a WW2 Victory medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign medal and American Defense medal. Copies of Pittman's service files and internet research are part of this group.
