Jack Clemens nodded his head and slowly clasped his hands as the sounds of “Tiger Rag” echoed throughout the third floor of Hendrix Student Center shortly after 11 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 3.
Moments before, a small group of students from Tiger Band had just finished playing “Happy Birthday” as family, neighbors, Clemson University students and staff gathered in the Military & Veteran Engagement lounge in anticipation of Jack blowing out three candles atop his birthday cake — a cake that was prepared in honor of his 100th birthday.
“This was all too much,” he would later say, repeatedly.
The celebration was fitting for a World War II veteran and 1953 Clemson alumnus. Jack grew up in the Clemson area. His grandmother (Carey family) and great aunt ran two different boarding houses so families who were visiting students in the early 1900s had a place to stay while their sons were in school at Clemson.
After graduating from high school, Jack enrolled at Clemson. But he was drafted into the military and enlisted in the United States Navy in 1945. At just 21 years of age, he was quickly routed to the Pacific on board the USS Montauk.
“The ship transported troops and equipment into the invasion of Okinawa, Japan,” says Jimmy Mullinax, Clemson’s executive director of military affairs and host of Thursday’s celebration. “Jack can tell you stories about sitting off the shores of Okinawa, and the things they had to endure.”
With the threat of Kamikaze Pilots and enemy submarines all around, Jack served an important role as one of the navigators — helping to steer the ship safely in and out of ports.
Soon after the invasion, the war ended, and he was honorably discharged. A few years later, Jack re-enrolled at Clemson and earned a bachelor’s degree in arts and sciences. He went on to work for the Clemson City Post Office.
“In the beginning, I walked 13 ½ miles a day,” he says, drawing gasps from attendees.
“With a 30-pound pack of mail on your back,” interjects his son, John.
Jack worked for the post office for more than 30 years, before also serving on staff at the University. His wife, Ruth, is also still living and retired from the University after more than 30 years. He now lives in nearby Pendleton.
His next-door neighbor, Debby Mills, notified Clemson’s Office of Military & Veteran Engagement a few weeks ago about Jack’s upcoming milestone. She was at Thursday’s birthday celebration, along with other friends, including members of Pendleton American Legion-Paul DeWitt Post 113 — a group Jack is proudly part of. Commander Eric Naeseth says Jack is known to be found sweeping floors following their meetings.
Several members of Jack’s family attended the celebration, including John and his wife Nancy. Jack’s daughter Vicky and her husband Tom were on hand. Jack’s granddaughter Andrea made it up from Augusta, Georgia. Following the celebration, they were treated to a tour of campus, which included Jack’s first visit to the Scroll of Honor — a solemn place across from Memorial Stadium that commemorates the 498 service members who lost their lives defending the country.
“My heart is full for my dad to be celebrated like this,” says John, who also graduated from Clemson. “My parents have been married for 76 years, and they have been good parents. I got a great education at Clemson, and we love it here.”
Jack has often shared about his World War II experiences with John. In fact, John distinctly remembers taking his father to see different movies about World War II, including “Midway.” He says when planes would swoop down toward ships on the movie screen, Jack would duck, almost like they were coming after him as if he was still on board a ship.
“Less than one percent of the 16.1 million enlisted military members fought in World War II,” John says. “We’re losing people with knowledge of what it’s like to be in a war.
“It’s no fun, is it?” he asks Jack.
“That’s right,” Jack replies, softly.
Jack is one of less than 1,000 people currently in the state of South Carolina to reach the milestone of 100 years of age, and a proud member of the “Greatest Generation.”
“We thank Jack for his service during World War II, for his service to Clemson University and to the local community,” says Mullinax, who shared with him two gifts from President Jim Clements — a personalized note and a Clemson blanket.
“It’s been an honor to celebrate a great Clemson man.”