Clark Franklin Rinehart was born in Ridgeway, Missouri, 30 May 1910.
Rinehart enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve 30 April 1937, was appointed aviation cadet 22 July 1937, designated naval aviator 8 June 1938, appointed ensign for aviation duties in the U.S. Naval Reserve ranking from 1 August 1938, commissioned ensign in the United States Navy ranking from 1 June 1939; and appointed lieutenant (junior grade) for temporary service ranking from 1 November 1941. He was assigned successively to the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida; Bombing Squadron 2 on board USS Lexington (CV-2); and Fighting Squadron 2 again on board Lexington.
Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross
He received the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement in aerial combat as pilot of a fighter plane in action against Japanese forces in the Battle of the Coral Sea, 7 and 8 May 1942. His plane failed to return 8 May 1942.
Namesake
USS Rinehart (DE-196) was named in Lt. Rinehart's honor. The ship was laid down by the Federal Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Newark, New Jersey, 21 October 1943; launched 9 January 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Dorothy Ruth Rinehart; and commissioned at New York City 12 February 1944.
References
- This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
- Lundstrom, John B. (2005). The First Team: Pacific Naval Air Combat from Pearl Harbor to Midway (New ed.). Annapolis, Maryland, U.S.A.: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-471-X.
- Rinehart