More detail on this person: Clancy Woliver,
Silver Star recipient Burial information: Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site:
03/10/2024
Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association
By LYNWOOD ABRAM
Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle April 24,
2002
Retired Army Col. Clarence H. "Clancy" Woliver, a
native of the Houston area and a highly decorated
veteran of the Vietnam War, died of a heart attack
Friday while being treated for cancer in San
Antonio. He was 69.
Woliver was awarded the Silver Star, one of the
nation's highest decorations for valor, for
refusing to abandon eight U.S. Marines who were
surrounded by enemy fire in Vietnam during
Woliver's tour of duty in 1968-69.
Although his helicopter had run out of ammunition,
Woliver stayed in the area where the Marines were
stranded, taking enemy fire so that other aircraft
that were rescuing the Marines would be spared,
according to his son, Walt Woliver.
Wounded by shrapnel during the operation, Clancy
Woliver managed to fly his badly damaged
helicopter back to its base. Woliver recovered
from his injuries, his son said. Among Woliver's
other decorations were two Legion of Merit medals,
the Distinguished Flying Cross, three Purple
Hearts, nine Air Medals and two Bronze Stars.
Born in Goose Creek (now part of Baytown), Woliver
graduated from Lamar High School in Houston. At
Lamar, he also met his future wife, Lois Saunders.
She died after 40 years of marriage.
In 1954, Woliver graduated from Texas A&M
College and joined the Army in 1955.
He retired in 1986 after serving for two years as
commanding officer of Fort Sam Houston in San
Antonio.
Besides his son Walter of Roswell, Ga., Woliver is
survived by his second wife, Jo Ann Ansley Woliver
of San Antonio; another son, David Allen Woliver
of Tallapoosa, Ga.; stepdaughters, Karen Skelton
of Austin and Emma Calvert of San Antonio; a
stepson, F. Thornton Goetting III of San Antonio;
and a brother, Ronald W. Woliver of Houston.
Services were conducted Tuesday in San Antonio.
Burial was in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.
Clancy Woliver died this past Friday in San
Antonio. He was a member of Delta Battalion, but
not a member of the 114th. Clancy was the Bn S2
and I am sure that many of the 114th members
knew him. If you would kindly send that info to
the 114th membership I would appreciate it.
From: Pete Asher
Clancy was the Battery Commander of A Btry
2/20th ARA Bn in the 1st Cav Div, he was later the
S-3 of the 2/20th. I was on the Bn Staff as
Safety Officer and Clancy was my rater. He was
the S-3 when I left Camp Evans around May 1968.
From: Patrick J. Kelly, LTC Ret