Captain Clarence J. "Jerry" Wages, Jr. USN (Ret.)

Captain C. J. Wages, of Bay Point, Panama City, Florida, succumbed to cancer and stroke on May 23, 2008, with his wife of 55 years, Cynthia Caldwell Wages, at his side. His daughters, Paris Wages Hicks, of Oakland, CA and Zoë Wages Dillard, of Centreville, VA and granddaughters, Ashley and Phoebe Dillard, also survive the Captain.
Jerry Wages was born in New Orleans and attended public schools there and in Monroe, Louisiana, graduating from L.S.U. in Baton Rouge in 1957. For the next 34 years, Jerry served his country, first in the Naval Reserve, then as a Navy officer, attaining the final rank of captain. He received numerous medals, including the Purple Heart, the Silver Star, and two awards of the Gallantry Cross, awarded by the Government of the Republic of Vietnam, for personal heroism in combat with Vietnamese units. During his tour in Vietnam, as Senior US Advisor /Commander Rung Sat Special Zone, his river patrol group was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for extraordinary heroism by President Nixon. Captain Wages was proud to subsequently serve as personal aide to Admiral E.R. Zumwalt, in the office of Chief of Naval Operations. Jerry returned to sea to fulfill his childhood dream of commanding a ship; in 1972 he became the captain of USS Josephus Daniels, going on to assume command of Destroyer Squadron 26. After retirement, Jerry earned a Masters of Arts degree in public administration management from Central Michigan University.
He will be buried with full military honors, at Arlington National Cemetery on August 20, 2008.

Wilson Funeral Home