Navy Federal Credit Union

Clinton Vincent graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Class of 1936. During World War II, he became a U.S. Army Air Forces ACE, credited with shooting down 6 enemy aircraft in aerial combat. He served as the model for Milton Caniff’s comic strip characters “Colonel Vince Casey” and Brigadier General P.G. ‘Shanty’ Town” during and after World War II. He was the youngest USMA Graduated promoted to General in the 20th Century, and retired as a U.S. Air Force Brigadier General. After the war he transferred to the new U.S. Air Force, and died in his sleep in 1955 while serving as an Air Force Brigadier General.

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps)

    Regiment:

    23d Fighter Group

    Division:

    10th Air Force

    Action Date:

    World War II

    United States Military Academy Register of Graduates

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps) Clinton Dermott Vincent (ASN: 0-20189), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as a Pilot with the 23d Fighter Group, 10th Air Force, in action in East China during World War II. The skillful and zealous manner in which he has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps)

    Regiment:

    23d Fighter Group

    Division:

    10th Air Force

    Action Date:

    World War II

    United States Military Academy Register of Graduates

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps) Clinton Dermott Vincent (ASN: 0-20189), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as a Pilot with the 23d Fighter Group, 10th Air Force, in action in East China during World War II. The skillful and zealous manner in which he has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps)

    Regiment:

    23d Fighter Group

    Division:

    10th Air Force

    Action Date:

    World War II

    United States Military Academy Register of Graduates

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps) Clinton Dermott Vincent (ASN: 0-20189), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as a Pilot with the 23d Fighter Group, 10th Air Force, in action in East China during World War II. The skillful and zealous manner in which he has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.

  • Legion of Merit

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps)

    Action Date:

    World War II

    United States Military Academy Register of Graduates

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps) Clinton Dermott Vincent (ASN: 0-20189), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States during World War II. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Lieutenant Colonel Vincent and his dedicated contributions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Army.

  • Army Distinguished Service Medal

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    Brigadier General

    Action Date:

    May 1 – November 8, 1944

    War Department, General Orders No. 20 (March 29, 1945)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Brigadier General Clinton Dermott Vincent (ASN: 0-20189), United States Army Air Forces, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility as Commanding General of the 68th Composite Wing, FOURTEENTH Air Force, from 1 May 1944 to 8 November 1944, in China. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of General Vincent and his dedicated contributions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Army Air Forces.

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps)

    Regiment:

    23d Fighter Group

    Division:

    10th Air Force

    Action Date:

    November 22 – 27, 1942

    Headquarters, China Air Task Force, General Orders No. 19 (December 20, 1942)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps) Clinton D. Vincent (ASN: 0-20189), United States Army Air Forces, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Pilot of a Fighter Airplane of the 23d Fighter Group, TENTH Air Force, in action in East China during the period 22 to 27 November 1942. Lieutenant Colonel Vincent, immediately after reporting for duty at this headquarters, accompanied the mission over East China from 22 November to 27 November, when seven raids were made in five days. He volunteered in each and every one of these missions, and flew actively in six of them. In his very first raid he went low and strafed enemy shipping and installations. Over Canton, on 27 November 1942, he aggressively attacked and shot down an enemy fighter and delivered fire on several others in an action where our forces were faced by superior numbers of the enemy. The voluntary acts of this staff officer in engaging in six out of the first seven combats of the China Air Task Force on a most active front, and the coolness, gallantry and intrepidity of his flying was an example to the officers and men of this command.