Melvin Wayne Claypool was born in Apollo, Pennsylvania on May 20, 1920, the eldest of eleven children. Melvin left home following the death of his father and youngest brother to join the Civilian Conservation Corps, a Depression-era work relief program established as part of the New Deal. He worked in the Midwest stringing telephone lines, and eventually came to Niles to live with his Aunt Flo. While in Niles he met Rita Jean Duganne, who loved to dance the Boogie-Woogie. They were married on August 27, 1943 and Melvin was drafted into the Navy three days later.

Melvin served on a ship known as the ARD#4, an Auxiliary Repair Dock. He worked making fresh water from sea water, but found a way to reduce the time this took, resulting in his promotion to rank 1st Class Petty Officer. He was in the scuttle hatch observing what was happening when a Japanese kamikaze aircraft struck his vessel and cracked the ship’s hull. Upon his discharge from the Navy in December, 1945 Melvin returned home to meet his son Charles Edward, who’d been born while he was at sea. He and Rita had two more children, David Robert and John Wayne. In civilian life Melvin worked as a machinist at Niles Steel productions and then at Wean Industries, where he worked until his retirement. He passed away on January 6, 1991 at the age of 70 and is buried in Kerr’s cemetery, Mineral Ridge, Ohio.

210 Melvin Claypool poses with the company of his auxiliary repair dock, a ship used to repair others at sea during World War II. Melvin is the fifth man from the left in the third row from the bottom. 1943-1945.

210a Melvin Claypool with fellow navy man and cousin Dean Slick at a chance meeting in a San Diego bar, 1944.

210b Melvin Claypool’s Navy discharge certificate, December 22, 1945.

210c Melvin Claypool’s World War II vessel, an auxiliary repair dock, 1944.

210d An Okinawa train depot, 1945.

210e An Okinawan man with horse and cart, 1940s.

210f Group of soldiers in San Diego bar, Melvin Claypool on far right. 1940s.

210g The Japanese peace envoy gathering to sign the peace treaty ending the war with Japan and World War II, 1945.

Gift of Brenda Claypool.