Colonel Clarence Austin Orndorff, A Soldier's Story
Colonel Clarence Austin Orndorff, A Soldier's Story
Colonel Clarence Austin Orndorff was born on May 17, 1894, in Spokane, Washington. A graduate of Gonzaga University, he came of age during a period when military service and civic responsibility were deeply intertwined.
During World War I, Orndorff served in the United States Marine Corps, gaining experience in a conflict that reshaped modern warfare and the Corps itself. After the war, he returned to civilian life but remained committed to service by joining the Washington State National Guard.
Balancing a professional career as an attorney with his Guard responsibilities, Orndorff embodied the tradition of the citizen-soldier. Over the interwar years, he advanced steadily in rank and responsibility, maintaining readiness as global tensions again escalated.
During World War II, he was called to active duty and deployed to the Pacific Theater. He served at Guadalcanal, one of the most grueling campaigns of the war, where Allied forces fought fiercely to halt Japanese expansion. During operations there, Orndorff was injured, a reminder that National Guard service carried the same risks and burdens as regular Army assignments.
In addition to his combat service, Colonel Orndorff served as Commanding Officer of the 95th Regiment and was connected with training operations that prepared soldiers for combat duty. His leadership extended beyond battlefield command to shaping others' readiness.
Colonel Clarence Austin Orndorff retired from military service in 1945, concluding decades of dual service as both a military officer and practicing lawyer.
He died on January 11, 1971, and is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Spokane, Washington.
His life reflects a generation that did not separate professional success from national duty. He built a legal career, maintained military readiness through the National Guard, and when called upon, served in one of the Pacific War’s most difficult campaigns.
That steady commitment, in war and in peace, is its own form of distinction.
_____________________________________________________________________________
About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life
She shares her journeys at Take the Back Roads, explores new reads at Rite of Fancy, and highlights U.S. military biographies at Everyday Patriot.
You can also browse her online photography gallery at shop.takethebackroads.com.
✨ #TakeTheBackRoads
Enjoyed this post? Support the adventure by visiting my sponsors, shopping the gallery, or buying me a cup of coffee!
