''The Elsie item'' - USS Landing Craft Infantry National Association

BRAVO ZlTLU! Using the traditional Navy flag signal sent to recognize outstanding achievement or conduct, we salute two ofour members who have achieved distinction in their careers after their World War II service in Landing CraftInfantry. The Association is truly proud ofthese men.Howard "Tiny Clarkson Honoredfor Meritorious ServiceBruce Cottington Recognized by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota We wish we had a picture to go along with this one, too, but ourpride in Bruce Cottington of Litchfield Minnesota, who servedin USS LCI (G) 462 is every bit as button-busting.A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of Minnesotarecognizes Bruce for his lifetime of service to his communityand to his profession of agriculture.An "early-timer", Bruce joined the Navy at the age of 15 andearned seven battle stars for his participation in battles includingSaipan, Okinawa, and the Philippines. He also served in theKorean War where he was awarded his eighth battle star.Recipient of Meritorious Service AwardLong known for his generous spirit and community involvement,"Tiny: Clarkson, Treasurer of the USS LCI National Associationwas recently recognized by the Scottish Rites Masonic Order bybeing given their coveted Meritorious Service Award.Presented to him at a testimonial banquet In Lansingburgh, NY,on October 19,2001, the award recognizes a lifetime of achievement..A graduate of Renssselar Polytechnic Institute with a degreein Civil Engineering, Howard was Director of the Highway,Aviation and Ports Division of the New York State Departmentof Transportation. He participated in the Omaha Beach landingsin Normandy on D-Day.For forty-nine years he has served as Trustee, Lay Leader andBuilding Chairman at the Center Brunswick United MethodistChurch.We congratulate Tiny on this high honor and offer him our sincerestcongratulations!And - we just had to print his picture that went with the banquetprogram just to show you how well he cleans up!A graduate of Drake University with a degree of Bachelor ofScience in Business Administration, Bruce began his professionalcareer in the grocery business before moving to Litchfield, Minnesotain 1968 where he, as the resolution states, was "a verypersistent, dedicated and successful promoter of the Litchfieldarea, agriculture in general, and especially the dairy industryfrom farmer to processor to consumer".In 1971, Bruce founded a local festival promoting agriculturalproducts with a special twist. Working with Future Farmers ofAmerica he started an exchange program between students inhis home town and Hartford, Alabama. This program has beenan outstanding success for over thirty years in achieving its goalof promoting "agriculture, rural youth, friendship and understandingbetween communities"We are proud to join the Senate of the State of Minnesota inrecognizing these outstanding lifetime achievements of LCIerBruce Cottington.Please pass on to us any information you may have concerninghonors achieved by yourself or other LClers. We want to do alittle back-patting and give out some deserved "well done"signals.17