SNOW HILL — A mistake was corrected this week when the name of Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class Clyde Jackson Rawson was added to the World War II monument in Snow Hill just a few days before the anniversary of Pearl Harbor, the battle in which Rawson lost his life.
Rawson was the first Worcester County resident to die in World War II but a clerical error kept him from receiving his due acknowledgment.
“Rawson’s name was mistakenly omitted from the World War II monument during its initial installation, and the unveiling serves to right that error,” read a statement from the Worcester County Commission, “and is part of an early commemoration of the 72nd Anniversary of Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day on Dec. 7, the ‘date which will live in infamy’ and the date Rawson gave his life in service to our country.”
The omission of Rawson’s name was spotted by local attorney Pete Wimbrow, who proceeded to lobby the county to address the mistake. Wimbrow was on hand for the unveiling ceremony Tuesday morning and spoke about Rawson’s life and service to his country. Except for a brief transfer to the U.S.S. West Virginia in 1940, Rawson served on the U.S.S. Arizona from 1931 until 1941, when the ship was sunk during the surprise attack by the Japanese navy on Pearl Harbor.
Wimbrow delved into the history of the attack and the Arizona and noted that it was a complete and terrible surprise for the country when the first torpedoes struck.
“Awaiting their fate were thousands of unsuspecting servicemen. One of them was our own pride, Jackson Rawson,” said Wimbrow.
The sinking of the Arizona is one of the most infamous moments of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Wimbrow described how a Japanese bomber dropped an armor piercing bomb between two of the Arizona’s turrets. That bomb reached the ship’s forward magazine.
“A pillar of smoke and fire erupted into the sky, which was captured in a now-famous picture,” said Wimbrow, “and pieces of debris and bodies rained over Pearl Harbor. The stricken ship sank.”
Most of the crew of the ship didn’t survive. More strikes followed the first assault.
“In addition to several torpedoes, the Arizona was struck by, at least, eight bombs,” Wimbrow said. “Of a crew of 1,400, less than 200 survived. Most are still on the ship, which rests at the bottom of Pearl Harbor.”
Rawson’s remains were recovered, however, and he is interred at the National Cemetery at the “Punchbowl,” on the island of Oahu, Hawaii.
Wimbrow also spoke of Rawson as a citizen of Worcester County who had many friends and loved ones in the community.
“He was a year older than my father. They both grew up in Whaleyville,” said Wimbrow. “They played together. They went to Sunday school together. Their birthday was in the same month.”
The urge to join the navy might have stemmed from Rawson’s early love of the water and fishing, according to Wimbrow.
“In the spring of 1930, when a Navy recruiter came to Buckingham High School in Berlin, Jack leapt at the opportunity and enlisted,” Wimbrow wrote. “His enlistment date was Sept. 8, 1930.”
During his time in service, Rawson saw a lot of travel and many promotions until reaching Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class. That time was cut tragically short by the attack on Pearl Harbor, but the inclusion of Rawson’s name on the World War II monument outside of the Snow Hill will help new generations remember his life and service.