Background
Slack was born in Plover, Wisconsin on February 23, 1896.
Slack was born in Plover, Wisconsin on February 23, 1896.
Clayton Slack joined the United States Army from Madison, Wisconsin in September 1917, and as a Private he was cited for single-handedly clearing out a German machine gun nest resulting in 10 prisoners and the capture of 2 machine-guns on October 8, 1918, in the Meuse-Argonne offensive, the biggest battle of World War I involving American troops. Slack noticed several German troops and charged at them with his rifle and bayonet telling them to "put their hands up". The German soldiers thinking that he was at the lead of a patrol, surrendered.
Slacks actions were credited with saving his unit heavy casualties.
After the war Slack toured the United States with war films and by the time of his death had met six presidents. He died March 1, 1976 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Virginia.
His grave can be found in section 34, lot 59.