Frank Butner Clay Explained

Frank Butner Clay
Birth Date:26 February 1921
Birth Place:Auburn, Alabama
Death Place:Washington, D.C.
Allegiance:United States
Branch:United States Army
Serviceyears:1942–1973
Rank:Major General
Battles:World War II
Vietnam War
Awards:Army Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star (3)
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star Medal (3)
Purple Heart (2)
Air Medal (15)
Relations:General Lucius D. Clay (father)
General Lucius D. Clay Jr. (brother)

Major General Frank Butner Clay (February 26, 1921 – December 30, 2006) was a United States Army officer. He was the son of General Lucius D. Clay Sr. and the brother of General Lucius D. Clay Jr. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery along with his first wife, Patricia Adams Casey Clay (November 1, 1923 – January 1, 1973). Patricia Clay was the sister of Major Hugh Boyd Casey, who was killed in an airplane crash while serving as an aide-de-camp to the 3d Infantry Division Commander during the Korean War. They were, in turn, the children of Major General Hugh John Casey of the Army Corps of Engineers, who was the West Point roommate and good friend of General Lucius D. Clay Sr.

Clay attended the Valley Forge Military Academy and graduated from Millard Prep School. Appointed to the United States Military Academy from New York state, he graduated with a B.S. degree in May 1942. Clay later graduated the Command and General Staff College in 1952 and the National War College in 1961.[1] [2]

General Clay served in various positions from World War II through the Vietnam War. In 1971, he was a military advisor to the US delegation to the Paris peace talks. General Clay retired from the Army in 1973. He became the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Drug and Alcohol Abuse on July 11, 1973.[2]

He died at the Knollwood Military Retirement Residence in Washington, D.C. and is buried along with his first wife at Arlington National Cemetery.[3] [4]

Awards and decorations

He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star Medal with V and two Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=cNeqibq2y1EC&pg=PA510 . Official Register of the Officers and Cadets . Class of 1942—Register of Graduates . 1971 . 510 . United States Military Academy . 2023-01-12.
  2. News: Gen. Clay Heads DoD Drug Program . February 7, 1974 . 15 . 6 . 3 . Commanders Digest . 2023-01-12.
  3. https://ancexplorer.army.mil/publicwmv/#/arlington-national/search/results/1/CgRjbGF5EgVmcmFuaw--/ Arlington National Cemetery
  4. News: Frank Butner Clay . January 14–21, 2007 . The Washington Post . 2023-01-12.