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Clement Emery LaFond
Jeremy Anderson2024-03-17T14:10:33-05:00
- Name: Clement Emery LaFond
- Location of Birth: Grand Rapids, Minnesota
- Date of Birth: May 28, 1914
- Date of Death: December 21, 1957 (43 years old)
- Parents: Paul LaFond & Mary (Major) LaFond
- High School and Class: 1933 Greenway High School, Coleraine, Minnesota
- College: School of Radio and Television of Arts and Sciences in Hollywood, California
1951 - University of Houston - Bachelor of Arts degree in radio and television
1953 - University of Houston - Master of Arts degree
- Highest Rank: SGT (Sergeant)
- Branch: Army
- Other Branch:
- Date Sworn In: October 29, 1942
- Place Sworn In:
- Date of Discharge: November 21, 1945
- Place of Discharge:
-
- Military Awards:
World War II Victory Medal
American Theater Medal
Good Conduct Medal
- Military Highlights:
Clement served in the 765th Army Air Force Battalion.
Clement became interested in electronics while in the service. He completed a radio mechanics course in the Air Force Technical Training School.
Information in the United States, World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947:
Name: Clement Emery Lafond
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 26
Relationship to Draftee: Self (Head)
Birth Date: May 28, 1914
Birth Place: Grand Rapids, Minnesota, USA
Residence Place: Ventura, Ventura, California, USA
Registration Date: October 16, 1940
Registration Place: Ventura, Ventura, California, USA
Employer: Lang Transportation Corporation
Height: 5' 8"
Weight: 143
Complexion: Ruddy
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Brown
Next of Kin: Mary Lafond (mother)
Other obvious physical characteristics that will aid in identification: middle finger on left hand is missing
Newspaper article: Duluth News Tribune, Duluth, Minnesota - 1944 – “3 IN FAMILY ARE IN SERVICE – Marble – Three sons of Mrs. Mary LaFond are in service. The oldest, Cpl. Clement E. LaFond, of Culver City, Calif. is a radio technician in the Army Air Corps. He is now taking advanced training at Newark, N.J. and Florida. He entered service in November 1942. Another son, Cpl. Gene P. LaFond of Marble, is in the engineering corps of the Army taking his training at Camp Shelby, Miss. and Shreveport, La. He is now on desert maneuvers in California. He entered the Army in May 1942. The youngest, Pvt. Maurice M. LaFond, also of Marble, is in the Army specialized training program now training at the University of California. He entered service in March 1943.”
- Wars Involved:
World War II
- MIA / POW:
- Civilian Life:
Clement LaFond lived much of his life in Marble, Minnesota. He became a TV electrical engineer and for the past three years was employed as Chief Engineer of WKNO-TV of Memphis, Tennessee.
Clement was a member of the staff of Houston Educational Television Station at Houston, Texas before moving to Memphis in 1955. He designed WKNO's engineering facilities and was one of the leaders in getting the station into operation. He was responsible for the full engineering and equipment design of the station and engaged in every type of activity to help bring the channel into operation.
Clement was a communicant of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church.
He is survived by his mother, Mary LaFond; his wife and daughter, Jacqueline LaFond and Michaelle; four sisters, Margaret Calder, Mrs. Elvira Strand, Loretta Daigle, and Melvina Daigle; and three brothers, Lawrence, Eugene and Maurice.
Clement died of a heart attack in Memphis, Tennessee and is buried in Calvary Cemetery, Grand Rapids, Minnesota (C-B-02-27).
- Tribal Affiliation(s):
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