Clifton was the son of Charley Adam Chessor and Jessie Lillian Whitwell, and the husband of Thelma Sanders.

The following article was written by James E. ("Uncle Jim") Chessor about Clifton Chessor's military service in World War II:

"Writes His Travelog on a German Helmet"
by James E. Chessor

Clifton Chessor, Seaman, home on furlough during the holidays, brought back interesting data of his service on the U.S.S. Hambleton during the year 1944. He reported aboard ship on Jan. 30, and was transferred on Dec. 4. He had sailed the Atlantic, the Crimean, and the Mediterranean. The outline is best told in the notations made by his Commanding Officers, quoted in part below, but more interestingly -- and more grimly -- by himself in a curious way. He brought home with him a German helmet (found in a French fort in North Africa), on which, with white ink, he drew or printed the travels of the Hambleton from April 29 to Dec. 4. The helmet reminds one of a skull, only it is black, with characters written over it in white. The helmet seems to talk English, and says:

"The Hambleton touched at the Azores (Columbus touched here in 1492) May 1; at Gilbraltar, May 1; at Oran, North Africa, May 3; at Algiers, May 10; at Djigelli, May 15; sunk a German sub in Mediterranean, May 17; put into English ports, Plymouth and Weymouth, May 18-23; took part in invasion of Normandy, June 5; guard duty off Norman coast, June 6-21; tough battle at night, June 5; knee injured by explosion of adjacent gun; put in at Portland, England, June 28; Cherbourg, shore bombardment, June 25; put in at Belfast, Ireland, June 30; Mediterranean area, July 17; Torento, Italy, Aug.10-14; took part in invasion of Southern France, Aug. 15; Toulon, St. Tropez, patrol duty, Aug.-Sept.; Marseilles, October; Homeward Bound! -- October. 25; Boston harbor, Nov. 7; Norfolk, Dec. 4; transferred to Receiving Section, Navy Yard, Washington, D.C.; assigned to School in Electrical Hydraulics, beginning Jan. 25, 1945." . . . (Thus a German helmet speaketh English and American!! Its one word in German should be, and without long delay -- "Kamerad!" -- Uncle Jim.) . . . The following is taken verbatim from Clifton's record written by his Commanding Officers: --

"Member of ship's crew, U.S.S. Hambleton, when that vessel took part in invasion of North Africa, Nov. 8-11, 1944, and sustained torpedo damage from enemy submarine on night of Nov. 11." "Sank submarine -- German U-616 -- by surface fire in Mediterranean, May 17." "Took part in invasion of Normandy and destruction of enemy surface craft, June 6-21." "Took part in invasion of Southern France, Aug. 15." "As gun captain of 5"-gun mount, though seriously handicapped by blast of adjacent gun, maintained rapid and accurate fire against enemy surface craft on night of June 9, off Normandy."

"COMMENDATION -- As captain of 5"-gun mount, CHESSOR has maintained an exceptionally high state of training of his gun crew and displayed a noteworthy devotion to duty which have resulted in enabling his gun to maintain at all times rapid and accurate fire in engagements with enemy U-Boat and surface craft, two invasions of France, and bombardment of Cherbourg, France, under heavy enemy fire. The high performance of his gun at all times without casualty reflects great credit upon himself and the naval service. -- H.A. Renken, Commander, U.S.S. Hambleton, Nov. 24, '44."

This article is taken from Uncle Jim' s Letter No. 18, written in January 1945. Uncle Jim sent monthly letters "to service men, workers in war factories and personal friends" during World War II.