Claudius Miller Easley

Claudius Miller Easley
Easley's memorial monument in Okinawa, Japan. 26°6′52.62″N 127°40′49.51″E / 26.1146167°N 127.6804194°E / 26.1146167; 127.6804194
Nickname(s)	"Speck"
Born	July 11, 1891 Thorp Springs, Texas, United States
Died	June 19, 1945 (aged 53) Okinawa, Japan
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1910–1945
Rank	Brigadier General
Unit	Infantry Branch
Commands held	325th Infantry Regiment 325th Glider Infantry Regiment
Battles/wars	Pancho Villa Expedition World War I World War II
Awards	Silver Star Legion of Merit Bronze Star Purple Heart (2)

Brigadier General Claudius Miller Easley (July 11, 1891 – June 19, 1945) was a decorated United States Army officer who was killed in action by the Japanese during the Battle of Okinawa.

Claudius Miller Easley was born on July 11, 1891 in the small village of Thorp Spring, Hood County, Texas as the eldest son of Alexander Campbell Easley and his wife Claudia Miller. His family later moved with to Waco, Texas when Easley was at a very young age. He subsequently attended local Waco High School, where he graduated in 1911. During his time at high school, Easley enlisted in the Texas National Guard and participated in Rifle-marksmanship competition at Camp Perry, Ohio. He was later commissioned as an officer, with the rank of second lieutenant in the Infantry Branch on July 11, 1912, his 21st birthday.

He later attended the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas and graduated in 1916 with a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering Degree. With the graduation from college, Easley decided for active service in the United States Army. He served first with the Texas Army National Guard on the Mexican Border and while he was commissioned in the Regular Army in 1917, shortly after the American entry into World War I, he remained for further border patrol duties with the 37th Infantry Regiment, not seeing service in World War I.