Like so many others, Clancy's world changed dramatically in early December 1941. He had been living in Pennsylvania now for about 3 years. He had returned to school.  It was a Sunday. He was at home.  His mother had the radio on and was listening to the soaps when the news came of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Like many others, there had been talk. People could see what had been happening in the Far East over recent months and years. They knew war was coming, but they did not know how or when.

 

Everyone to a man remembers either hearing a radio broadcast  or someone telling them what had happend. It was an event that marked time in the Era. There was "before Pearl Harbor" and there was "after Pearl Harbor". America declared war on Japan. Germany and Italy declared war on America. World War had engulfed America for a second time within a generation of the War to End All Wars.

 

Clancy was too young to join up right away. So he continued with schooling.  The Months passed and the news of the developing role of America in the war came in.

 

In November of 1942, Clancy made his move. Almost a year had passed since the attack on Pearl Harbor and America had been at war for that time. Clancy was big for his age and was in very good physical condition, having worked on a farm for most of his young life and playing some football in highschool. As soon as he was able, he signed up for the service. He was 16 years old, but, like innumerable other young men, he lied about his age to get in. His mother signed the papers.