Marvin Scott Clinton

Marvin Scott Clinton was born in Colville, Washington on February 15, 1921. Although, technically, according to the 1930 Federal Census, the family lived in an unincorporated part of Colville called Columbia. His parents were Lester H. Clinton and Florence M. Clinton. The Clintons were a rather large family by today’s standards. In 1930 Robert Clinton was 14 years old, making him the eldest of the Clinton Brood. Next was Stanley, just one year younger than Robert. Then came Marvin, nine years old at the time of the census, followed by little Lois, just five years old at the time. Lester listed his employment as working for himself on a farm, presumably a farm that he owned in the area. Marvin spent his first sixteen years in Colville before the Clintons packed up and moved to Pullman, Washington for his final two years in high school. Marvin graduated from Pullman High School in 1939.

Upon completing high school Marvin decided he wanted to continue his education but must not have wanted to venture too far from his loving family. He enrolled at Washington State College in Pullman and chose a major in General Studies to start his academic career. It was to be a short-lived academic career, however, as he only stayed at Washington State College through the 1940 school year, leaving WSC to join up with the United States Naval Reserve. However, he did meet Betty Book of Bainbridge Island, a fellow WSC student. They would marry on October 10, 1942. 

According to his military paperwork stored in Washington State University’s Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Marvin “enlisted at headquarters, 13th Naval District, Seattle, Wn. An Apprentice Seaman, Class V-3, USNR,” (United States Naval Reserve) and was placed on inactive duty. On March 3, 1941, Marvin “Reported to active Duty and transferred to Receiving Station, Puget Sound, Washington for assignment to Naval Reserve Radio School.” Marvin successfully completed Naval Radio School at Bainbridge Island on July 12, 1941, and was earmarked to travel to “Naval Reserve Aviation Base, Seattle, Washington for elimination flight training,” which he successfully completed on January 15th, 1942. He was then transferred to Naval Reserve Aviation Airbase in Dallas, Texas, and again to another station in Corpus Christi. Somehow Marvin was juggling his military responsibilities which took him all over the country and his responsibilities to his family and his lovely young wife. But manage it he did, and his journey up the ranks of the Naval Reserve continued apace. On February 18, 1942, Marvin’s “enlisted service” was “terminated to accept appointment as aviation cadet.” And he accepted his new appointment as a cadet the following day when he swore his oath of office and reported to U.S. Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi for active-duty training to fly an old type of plane in a new kind of way. On September 22, 1942, Marvin was officially appointed a Naval Aviator. Three days later he accepted that appointment and executed his oath of office as an Ensign. He was then “Detached from the U.S. Naval Air Station, Corpus Christi, Texas and transferred to Transition Training Squadron, Pacific Fleet for temporary active duty involving flying under instruction, and further transferred to Fleet Air West Coast for assignment to active duty flying.” He reported for Active duty flying on October 19, 1942, just ten days after he and Betty were married. In January of 1943 he was finally assigned to “Patrol Squadron SIXTY-THREE” to which he reported on February 1st. He received his final promotion to Lieutenant Junior Grade for “temporary service” in July of 1943 and went to war overseas.

Marvin was killed on January 9, 1945, in Port Lyautey, Morocco. Lieutenant Woodrow E. Sholes was piloting, and Marvin Clinton was co-pilot. The plane took off from the runway but shortly after takeoff, it plummeted into the Oued Sebou river, killing both Marvin and Lt. Sholes instantly. Fortunately, two other crewmen are reported to have survived the crash. Marvin was laid to rest next to his brothers in arms in the North African American Cemetery and Memorial in the ancient city of Carthage, Tunis, Tunisia.