Clarence Bidgood was an outstanding soldier, husband and father. He took great pride in the United States Army and in his family. In return he was highly respected by his fellow officers, and deeply loved by his wife and children.

 

Clarence enlisted in the Army in 1929 and was assigned to the Philippines. As he told it, after almost two years as a private it was obvious that he would not be promoted to private first class in the near future, so he decided to become an officer. He received an appointment and entered the Academy with the Class of 1935. As stated in the HOWITZER, "Never a file boner in the true sense of the word, nevertheless he performs with the greatest care every duty, whether it he military, academic, or social. Here is a man who has pushed away all obstacles and gone steadily upward.”

 

Shortly after graduation, Clarence made what he considered to he his best decision; he married Isabel McKee, the real pride of his life. His initial assignment was to Fort Benning as an infantryman, but shortly thereafter transferred to the Corps of Engineers and carried out the normal duties of an engineer junior officer. Although not directly related to the foregoing, the first of the two Bidgood children, Fred, was bom at the post hospital in May of 1938. The second child, Jayne, was born at Fort Jay in January of 1942; however, it would be a few years before Clarence would know he had a lovely daughter, because he was captured at Bataan before notification of her birth could reach him.

 

After the Death March and more than three years in Japanese prison camps where he taught sanitation, engineering and mathematics to his fellow prisoners, and was decorated for his conduct there, he returned to the United States and the long awaited reunion with his family. He progressed through the remainder of his military career attacking each new assignment whether it be command, staff or school, with the same intense interest and enthusiasm he displayed as a cadet. On the job he was not always a popular superior, for he had little patience and compassion for those who performed at a level below their capabilities, or for those who did not possess complete integrity. He was, however, highly respected because he was honest and fair, giving the full measure of himself in everything he did.

 

His last assignment was at Cape Canaveral as Aerospace Scientist for the Saturn program. Working with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), he actively participated in the program from concept through construction of the Vertical Assembly Building, then the largest building in the world, and launch complex 39 where the flight to the moon commenced. At Clarence's retirement ceremony, Dr. Kurk Debus, the Director of the John F. Kennedy Space Center, stated that when man set foot on the moon, Clarence Bidgood should take pride in knowing that he had contributed significantly to the achievement of this national objective.

 

Upon retiring from active service, Clarence joined Bellcom, Inc., in Washington, as head of the Launch Planning Department and continued to work with NASA on the Saturn program. Shortly after Neil Armstrong made his historic step onto the moon's surface, Clarence turned in his papers and began what would be a very short retirement in Alexandria with Isabel. After a trip to Florida to visit with friends and classmates, Clarence fell ill and passed away at Dewitt Army Hospital, Fort Belvoir. He was buried at Arlington on 25 February 1970.

 

"And when our work is done

Our course on earth is run

Let it be said—well done

Be thou at peace.”