Date: 1942 - 1949 Vol. No.1 HOME OF THE ORIGINAL MONTFORD POINT MARINES www.montfordpointmarines.org Press Release Original Montford Point Marine Mr. Clayton A. Pitre, Sr. June 30, 1924 - January 1, 2021 Clayton A. Pitre, Sr. was born on June 30, 1924 and He also maintained active membership in Kappa raised in Opelousas, Louisiana in Landry Parish. Alpha Psi (since 1949), St. Mary’s Church, the His parents, Gilbert Pitre and Eugenia Lemelle Knights of Peter Claver, the Knights of Columbus, Pitre were blessed with one daughter and six sons. The Breakfast Group, the Montford Point Marines, Clayton was the fourth born child. He attended the Marine Corp Support Group, and Seattle Catholic school until the ninth grade but was University Alumni Association. He also served unable to continue due to the lack of opportunities on the board of the Central Area Senior Center for high school within his home community. and as a member of a special Commission on Senior Services for the City of Seattle. In 2015, At the age of nineteen, Clayton was drafted into the Seattle Seahawks honored Corporal Clayton military service. He chose to join the Marine Pitre by selecting him to raise the 12th Man Flag Corps and in 1943, he headed off to Jacksonville, at Century Link field. The 12th Man honor was in NC and was trained at the segregated Camp recognition of his Congressional Gold Medal and Montford Point. Montford Point has since become for being a member of the first cohort of Black renowned as the training ground for our nation’s Marines. Among all his accomplishments, Clayton first Black Marines who served valiantly in spite A. Pitre, Sr. was most proud of the work he did of the racism they experienced before, during, to uplift Black youth by helping to provide them and after WWII. As a proud Montfort Point opportunities to further their education. Marine, Clayton was first sent to Saipan, located He later enrolled in Seattle University and began in the North Mariana Islands. Later, in 1945, he Clayton is survived by his three sons, Clayton work on his bachelor’s degree in accounting. participated in the Battle of Okinawa, Japan. Jr. (Felicia), Michael (Erika), Paul (Charisse); He attended college while working as a postal By the time WWII ended, Clayton had earned grandchildren Michaelia, Aaron, Daniel, clerk, selling real estate, and maintaining active the rank of Corporal and was sent to China to Cameron, Clayton Brycen, Gabrielle, and Chase, membership in Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. He oversee the evacuation of the Japanese army. He and great grandchildren Nathaniel and Theodore. earned his degree in 1968 and later became the was honorably discharged on February 8, 1946. Clayton is also survived by his brother-Edgar, his Director of Housing Development for the Central On June 26, 2012, Clayton A. Pitre, along with 500 sister-in-law Winifred Toney; nieces Sheryl Toney Area Motivation Program (CAMP). He worked of his Montford Point Marine Brothers, received Lorenzo, Michelle Williams, Carolyn, Shelia, tirelessly to fund, develop, and enhance low- the nation’s highest honor, the Congressional Gold Ramona, Marilyn, Sharon, Garnett, and Teresa; income housing across the city of Seattle. Medal for his WWII service. Clayton traveled to nephews Hannigan, Robert Williams, Steven our nation’s capital with his wife Gloria, to receive Williams, Wilfred, Robert, Dwayne, Edgar Jr., Clayton joined the Veterans Administration (VA) the honor from congressional leaders. Lawrence and Keith. Clayton was blessed with a as a Real Estate Specialist and Appraiser in 1973 and host of extended family in Louisiana, California, worked there for eleven years until his retirement After returning to Louisiana, Clayton spent a Illinois, and Texas. in 1984. During Clayton’s retirement years, he total of 30 days there and made the decision to relaxed and traveled throughout the United join his older brothers in Seattle. He was able to A virtual funeral/burial to honor the life of Clayton States with his wife Gloria visiting their children, gain employment at the Navy’s Fort Lawton and will be held on February 10th, 2021 at 12pm. Please grandchildren, and extended family members. enrolled in Seattle’s Broadway Edison Technical email [email protected] for a link to the service. Clayton and Gloria also traveled throughout School where he was able to complete his high A large outdoor “Celebration of Clayton’s LIfe” is Europe, including France on numerous occasions, school diploma. being planned for September 4, 2021. In lieu of and cruised the Mediterranean Seas. flowers, please consider a donation in Clayton’s In 1957, Clayton met Gloria Toney through a honor to the Seattle Chapter of the United Negro In his retirement he founded the African American family friend. Gloria was visiting her sister in College Fund (UNCF) https://uncf.org/local- Dollars for Scholars Foundation along with Seattle Seattle to help her with her newborn son. Clayton offices/seattle. Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi. and Gloria were married in 1958 and started a family. They had three children, Clayton Jr., Michael, and Paul. January 20, 2021.