In mid-20th century Westport, the name Clayton Chalfant was a familiar one.
A heavy machine gunner who landed at Omaha Beach shortly after D-Day, he helped establish our town’s sister city relationship with Marigny, a Normandy town he had passed through.
Nearly 80 years later, the two towns’ ties remain strong.
So does Chalfant. Today, he celebrates his 100th birthday.
Two views of Clayton Chalfant.
He’s not a Westport native — but he comes close. Soon after his February 21, 1924 birth in Killingly, Connecticut, his family moved to Westport.
They lived on Compo Road and in an apartment on Main Street (possibly above the original Klein’s store) before settling in a home on Kings Highway.
Chalfant attended Westport schools. He spent his youth playing sports, and hanging out at the Gault sandpit on Imperial Avenue, the YMCA, Compo Beach and Nash’s Pond.
The family survived the Great Depression. His father Russ held multiple jobs to keep the family fed and sheltered. It was not easy.
As a teen Chalfant worked in a Main Street bakery, making doughnuts. Their sweet smell still lingers in his memory.
When World War II broke out, his older brother Jim served as a medic. But Clayton was too young for the draft.
Heavy machine gunner Clayton Chalfant.
He and a few of his Westport pals, including Bob Saxonmeyer, went to the Navy recruitment office. Chalfant was turned away, but his patriotism, sense of honor and duty to serve the nation never waned.
He joined the Army in January, 1943, and headed to basic training at Fort Devens, Massachusetts.
Assigned to the 486th Anti-aircraft Battalion, his unit landed on Omaha Beach on June 21, 1944. He was a heavy machine gunner on a half-track mobile unit, protecting aircraft.
The amount of precision and detail communicated among forces is astonishing, considering the limited technology available.
Chalfant served in 5 battle campaigns: Normandy, northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe.
He has not been forgotten. The consulate general recently invited him to be France’s guest at the 80th celebration of D-Day this June, in honor of his service to their nation.
Twice in Europe — once at the beginning of his tour, then toward the end — Chalfant had a reunion with his brother. The meetings buoyed their spirits, and strengthened their resolve.
In 2004, as parade grand marshal, Clayton Chalfant proudly delivered Westport’s Memorial Day address. (Photo courtesy of WestportNow.com)
Chalfant enjoyed creative writing. During the war a battalion committee created a yearbook about their experiences. Chalfant contributed a futuristic view of the men after the war.
His creative flair later evolved into a long love of painting, sculpting and sketching.
Chalfant attended his first Catholic Mass during the war. He converted to the faith upon his discharge, and received all of his sacraments at Assumption Church.
He is now a parishioner at St. Luke. He considers faith to be paramount in living a joyful and generous life.
Clayton and Mary Chalfant, with then-1st Selectman Jim Marpe.
Also back in Westport, Chalfant started a discussion group of World War II servicemembers.
When Staples French Department chair Charlotte MacLear wanted to form a sister city relationship, it was Chalfant (and gun sergeant Bob Loomis) — both of whom had passed through Marigny, just 25 miles from Utah Beach — who made the connection with that town.
For more than a decade, Westporters sent holiday gifts, clothes and food to Marigny residents.
In return, they created a Westport School Canteen, and named their largest square “Place Westport.”
In June 1994 — as part of the 50th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy — Marigny officials invited 3 Westport middle school students and 2 Westport veterans to stay in the homes of residents. They visited “Westport Gift Shop” and “Pharmacie Westport.”
Nearly half a century earlier, through his brother’s wife Florence, Chalftant had met the love of his life, Mary Speer. On April 10, they’ll celebrate their 76th anniversary. They have 5 children, 10 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren (so far).
And today, Chalfant celebrates his century birthday today with many of those family members. They are proud to call him husband, dad, grandpa and Pop Pop.
And “06880” is proud to wish “Happy 100th Birthday” to Clayton Chalfant: war hero, longtime Westporter, and — today — our newest centenarian.
