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S/Sgt Richard F. Clayton graduated from Woodburn High School.

He enlisted in Trenton, New Jersey on 18 March 1941.
His father, Frank Clayton was victim of a gass attack while serving with the 28th Division in France in the First World War. He was discharged from the Army in 1919. His sister Edith was an officer in the WAC stationed in France, his brother Daniel served in the Army and his sister Jane was an Air Corps statistician.

He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross posthumously. The citation cited: On 15 March 1945, in the vicinity of Honnef, Germany, acting as platoon guide, Sgt Clayton led a six-man patrol to scout the forward slope of a hill overlooking the company's objective. Advancing alone, he captured an enemy outpost of two men and, returning toward his patrol's position, captured the relief for the outpost. Again advancing alone, he charged a hostile machine gun position and effected the surrender of its crew. Later, when an enemy counter-attack materialized, he, with a BAR, accounted for more than twenty-five Germans. In a subsequent action, while heroically exposing himself to draw enemy fire, which imperiled his platoon, Sgt Clayton was mortally wounded.

Note about the dates: No explanation is available for the fact that the date of his death differs from the date given in this citation.

He was initially buried in a temporary grave at Margraten on 5 May 1945. After being disinterred and after the cemetery was given a permanent status, he was given his final resting place on 27 July 1949.