Ver Steeg, Clarence Lester 1922-

Clarence Lester Ver Steeg was born December 28, 1922, to John Arie and Annie (Vischer) Ver Steeg. One of twelve children, Ver Steeg spent his entire youth in the town of his birth, Orange City, Iowa. He was an excellent student, receiving high marks throughout his primary education. After graduating from high school in 1940, he attended Northwestern Junior College, now Northwestern College, in Orange City. To earn money while a student Ver Steeg embarked on a brief career selling imported Dutch novelties.

Ver Steeg joined the United States Army Air Forces in 1942 and, after basic and flight training, was sent overseas to the South Pacific. From 1943 to 1945, he saw combat as a navigator in a B-24 squadron. Participating in missions over Hong Kong, New Guinea, and the Philippines, Ver Steeg accumulated over 400 hours of combat flight experience. Among the military decorations he received was the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters and five battle stars.

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