TSGT Louis John Clever was killed in action on 5 February 1969, when the EC-47 aircraft, callsign CAP 72, on which he was serving as an Airborne Morse Systems Operator, was downed by enemy fire over Laos.
TSGT Clever was born in Tarentum, PA on 24 July 1936 and graduated from Freeport High School, Freeport, PA in 1954.
TSGT Clever enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on 6 July 1955, completing basic training at Sampson AFB, NY. He spent his first enlistment in the personnel career field assigned to the USAF Hospital, Lackland AFB, TX. In May 1964, TSGT Clever completed Morse Code training at Keesler AFB, MS and was assigned to the 6910th Security Wing, Darmstadt, Germany. He was reassigned to Det 2, 6994th Security Squadron, Pleiku Air Base, Vietnam in October 1968.
TSGT Clever was posthumously promoted to the grade of Technical Sergeant on 1 June 1969. His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, and Purple Heart (posthumously), Air Medal (1st OLC), Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Vietnam Service Medal.
TSGT Clever is interred at site 307, section 81, Jefferson Barracks Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri beside his wife. His name is engraved on the Vietnam Veteran Memorial Wall on Panel 33W, line 61.
In November 1987 Building 1500 at Misawa AB was renamed Clever Memorial Hall in TSGT’s honor.
