James Clayton McClain passed away on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015, at Mountain View Care Facility in Clayton, at the age of 100 and ½. He had celebrated his 100th birthday on June 6, 2015, at Beechwood Inn with over 100 well-wishers and declared it “the best day of my long life.”
Clayton was born June 15, 1915, in Fairplay, South Carolina, in a house built by his father, James Cornelius McClain. James and Sarah Elizabeth Sanders McClain supported their family on their small farm and in building construction.
Clayton loved horses and being outdoors so he assisted his father as much as he could. Lean times meant always looking for work and Clayton took a job at the local airfield doing aircraft maintenance and fueling. He loved everything about airplanes and occasionally got to ride along. When he was 16 years old, he went to work for Shell Oil Co. and had the luck to service the airplane of the daring young Jimmie Doolittle, who taught him the finer points of flight. Almost a foot taller than the future Army Air Corps general, Clayton learned quickly and enthusiastically and was eventually able to secure side work dusting crops for other farmers. He also worked in his brother Claude’s painting business. That knowledge prepared him for his future in the U.S. Air Force.
In response to the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Clayton enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps on Jan. 9, 1942, and was sent to Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, for basic training. He became a drill instructor. While there, he met and fell in love with Alethea Wallack. They were married Sept. 30, 1941, nine days before he shipped out to war. The military quickly changed his name to “Mac” and he was known by that name for the rest of his 24-year career.
Serving during World War II, Korea and Viet Nam, Mac was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Good Conduct Medal with five Bronze Clasp Loops, Distinguished Service Medal, European Theater of Operations Medal with nine Battle Stars, European Victory Medal, American Defense Medal, Ribbon for Defense of Northern America (DEWLINE-radar sites established in Canada, Alaska and North Pole), two Purple Hearts, Unit Citation Award from the 839th Troop Transport Squadron, Unit Citation Award from the 1501st Maintenance Group, Air Commendation Medal for outstanding service at Travis AFB, CA and Antarctica, and the Armed Services Longevity Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters.
Mac was a loving, supporting father and a community leader wherever he was stationed. He served as a Scout Master at three different bases, managed championship squadron teams in baseball, served as president of the PTA, Travis AFB Saddle Club, and the Solano County, California, Horseman’s Association. He was an active member of the Circle D Riding Team at Vacaville, California.
Retirement in 1966 meant Mac could return to his first love; raising horses, flowers and farming. In 2008, he returned to Rabun County where he had worked and camped as a boy. He farmed until 2014 when his health declined. He attributed his longevity to physical work all his life, the love of family, the company of friends and abiding faith in God.
Mac was preceded in death by his parents and 16 siblings, Alethea Mary Wallack, his wife of 65 years, his son James Clayton McClain Jr., and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
He is survived by his daughter Gayle Darugh (David), grandsons Patrick McClain (Katie), and Christopher McClain (Jennifer), granddaughter Nicki Deines (Mathew) and five great-grandchildren, Aidan Patrick, Ryan Elizabeth and Finn Gainer McClain, Reece McClain and Kamryn Marie Deines.
Services will be held at Beck Funeral Home at 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 21, 2016.