Clarence L. Tinker
Encyclopedia
General Clarence Leonard Tinker (1887–1942) was an airman of who lost his life during World War II
while on a combat mission during the Japanese attack on Midway Island in the Pacific, June 7, 1942. Tinker Air Force Base
in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
is named in his honor. Tinker was an enrolled member of the Osage Nation
.
One-eighth Osage Indian, Clarence Tinker was born on November 21, 1887 near Pawhuska, Oklahoma
in the Osage Nation
. His maternal grandmother was half-Osage, with both her parents being children of the marriage of Osages with Aracadian Frenchmen from Louisiana. Tinker, the eldest son of George E. Tinker and Sarah A. Schwagerte, received his elementary education in Catholic institutions at Hominy
and Pawhuska, Oklahoma, and the Elgin, Kansas
public school. While growing up, he worked in the print shop of the Wah-Sha-She News, which his father founded and published. Beginning in 1900 Tinker attended the Haskell Institute
, the famous Indian school in Lawrence, Kansas
, but withdrew before graduating. In the fall of 1906, Tinker enrolled at Wentworth Military Academy
in Lexington, Missouri
. Upon graduating from Wentworth in 1908 Tinker was commissioned a third lieutenant in the Philippine Constabulary.
He received his commission as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army infantry in March 1912. After infantry training, Tinker joined the Twenty-fifth Infantry Division at Fort George Wright in Spokane, Washington. During World War I, Tinker served in the Southwestern United States and California, and was promoted to Major. In 1919, Tinker began flying lessons. One of his assignments after the War was with the ROTC at Riverside High School. When his father came to visit him at the school they began a conversation in Osage in public. This use of the language was one of the ways that Tinker publicly demonstrated his Osageness. Shortly thereafter, he transferred to the Army Air Service
, and on July 1, 1922, he was assigned to flight duty. For a time Tinker was the air attache to the US embassy in London. He also was at the Army Command and Staff College in the same class as Dwight D. Eisenhower
. In 1927, he was named Commandant of the Air Service Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field, Texas. Tinker commanded various pursuit and bombardment units during the 1930s. He was steadily promoted, and on October 1, 1940, became a brigadier general.
After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor
, Tinker was named Commander of the Air Forces in Hawaii to reorganize the air defenses of the islands. In January 1942, he was promoted to Major General, the First American Indian in U.S. Army history to attain that rank. In June 1942, the Japanese began their assault of Midway Island. In the midst of the Battle of Midway
, on June 7, General Tinker decided personally to lead a force of early model B-24s against the retreating Japanese naval forces. Near Midway Island his plane was seen to go out of control and plunge into the sea. General Tinker and eight crewmen perished. His body was never recovered.
Clarence L. Tinker was the first American General killed in World War II. He received the Soldier's Medal
in 1931 and was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Medal
.
On October 14, 1942, the Oklahoma City Air Depot was named Tinker Field
in his honor. It is now known as Tinker Air Force Base
.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
while on a combat mission during the Japanese attack on Midway Island in the Pacific, June 7, 1942. Tinker Air Force Base
Tinker Air Force Base
Tinker Air Force Base is a major U.S. Air Force base, with tenant U.S. Navy and other Department of Defense missions, located in the southeast Oklahoma City, Oklahoma area, directly south of the suburb of Midwest City, Oklahoma.-Overview:...
in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
is named in his honor. Tinker was an enrolled member of the Osage Nation
Osage Nation
The Osage Nation is a Native American Siouan-language tribe in the United States that originated in the Ohio River valley in present-day Kentucky. After years of war with invading Iroquois, the Osage migrated west of the Mississippi River to their historic lands in present-day Arkansas, Missouri,...
.
One-eighth Osage Indian, Clarence Tinker was born on November 21, 1887 near Pawhuska, Oklahoma
Pawhuska, Oklahoma
Pawhuska is a city in and the county seat of Osage County, Oklahoma, United States, and the capital of the Osage Nation. The population was 3,589 at the 2010 census, a decline of 1.2 percent from 3,629 at the 2000 census. The ZIP Code for the city is 74056...
in the Osage Nation
Osage Nation
The Osage Nation is a Native American Siouan-language tribe in the United States that originated in the Ohio River valley in present-day Kentucky. After years of war with invading Iroquois, the Osage migrated west of the Mississippi River to their historic lands in present-day Arkansas, Missouri,...
. His maternal grandmother was half-Osage, with both her parents being children of the marriage of Osages with Aracadian Frenchmen from Louisiana. Tinker, the eldest son of George E. Tinker and Sarah A. Schwagerte, received his elementary education in Catholic institutions at Hominy
Hominy, Oklahoma
Hominy is a city in Osage County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 3,565 at the 2010 census, a 38 percent increase from 2,584 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hominy is located at ....
and Pawhuska, Oklahoma, and the Elgin, Kansas
Elgin, Kansas
Elgin is a city in Chautauqua County, Kansas, United States, on the state line with Oklahoma. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 89.-Geography:Elgin is located at...
public school. While growing up, he worked in the print shop of the Wah-Sha-She News, which his father founded and published. Beginning in 1900 Tinker attended the Haskell Institute
Haskell Indian Nations University
Haskell Indian Nations University is a tribal university located in Lawrence, Kansas, for members of federally recognized Native American tribes in the United States...
, the famous Indian school in Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence is the sixth largest city in the U.S. State of Kansas and the county seat of Douglas County. Located in northeastern Kansas, Lawrence is the anchor city of the Lawrence, Kansas, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Douglas County...
, but withdrew before graduating. In the fall of 1906, Tinker enrolled at Wentworth Military Academy
Wentworth Military Academy
Wentworth Military Academy and College is a private four-year college preparatory high school and military junior college. It is located in Lexington, Missouri, part of the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area. Wentworth is the oldest military academy west of the Mississippi River, and the...
in Lexington, Missouri
Lexington, Missouri
Lexington is a city in Lafayette County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,453 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lafayette County. Located in western Missouri, Lexington lies about 40 miles east of Kansas City and is part of the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area...
. Upon graduating from Wentworth in 1908 Tinker was commissioned a third lieutenant in the Philippine Constabulary.
He received his commission as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army infantry in March 1912. After infantry training, Tinker joined the Twenty-fifth Infantry Division at Fort George Wright in Spokane, Washington. During World War I, Tinker served in the Southwestern United States and California, and was promoted to Major. In 1919, Tinker began flying lessons. One of his assignments after the War was with the ROTC at Riverside High School. When his father came to visit him at the school they began a conversation in Osage in public. This use of the language was one of the ways that Tinker publicly demonstrated his Osageness. Shortly thereafter, he transferred to the Army Air Service
United States Army Air Service
The Air Service, United States Army was a forerunner of the United States Air Force during and after World War I. It was established as an independent but temporary wartime branch of the War Department by two executive orders of President Woodrow Wilson: on May 24, 1918, replacing the Aviation...
, and on July 1, 1922, he was assigned to flight duty. For a time Tinker was the air attache to the US embassy in London. He also was at the Army Command and Staff College in the same class as Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
. In 1927, he was named Commandant of the Air Service Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field, Texas. Tinker commanded various pursuit and bombardment units during the 1930s. He was steadily promoted, and on October 1, 1940, became a brigadier general.
After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
, Tinker was named Commander of the Air Forces in Hawaii to reorganize the air defenses of the islands. In January 1942, he was promoted to Major General, the First American Indian in U.S. Army history to attain that rank. In June 1942, the Japanese began their assault of Midway Island. In the midst of the Battle of Midway
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway is widely regarded as the most important naval battle of the Pacific Campaign of World War II. Between 4 and 7 June 1942, approximately one month after the Battle of the Coral Sea and six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States Navy decisively defeated...
, on June 7, General Tinker decided personally to lead a force of early model B-24s against the retreating Japanese naval forces. Near Midway Island his plane was seen to go out of control and plunge into the sea. General Tinker and eight crewmen perished. His body was never recovered.
Clarence L. Tinker was the first American General killed in World War II. He received the Soldier's Medal
Soldier's Medal
The Soldier's Medal is a military award of the United States Army. It was introduced as Section 11 of the Air Corps Act, passed by the Congress of the United States on July 2, 1926...
in 1931 and was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal (United States)
The Distinguished Service Medal is the highest non-valorous military and civilian decoration of the United States military which is issued for exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in either a senior government service position or as a senior officer of the United...
.
On October 14, 1942, the Oklahoma City Air Depot was named Tinker Field
Tinker Air Force Base
Tinker Air Force Base is a major U.S. Air Force base, with tenant U.S. Navy and other Department of Defense missions, located in the southeast Oklahoma City, Oklahoma area, directly south of the suburb of Midwest City, Oklahoma.-Overview:...
in his honor. It is now known as Tinker Air Force Base
Tinker Air Force Base
Tinker Air Force Base is a major U.S. Air Force base, with tenant U.S. Navy and other Department of Defense missions, located in the southeast Oklahoma City, Oklahoma area, directly south of the suburb of Midwest City, Oklahoma.-Overview:...
.