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. Early life and military career 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 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 in 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. Between the wars Easley was then sent to the U.S. Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he graduated from the Advanced Infantry Course in 1919. In 1921, Easley was transferred to the Philippines, where he was assigned to the 31st Infantry Regiment, then stationed at Fort William McKinley. He served a three-year tour of duty in Manila, before he returned to the United States. He also attended the U.S. Army Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in 1925. He was subsequently assigned to the 4th Infantry Regiment at Fort George Wright, Washington. It was followed by short period of duties with the 30th Infantry Regiment at Presidio of San Francisco, California. In 1930, he was appointed an Instructor in the Weapons Section of the U.S. Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia and served in this capacity until 1934. He was later appointed a commander of the Los Angeles District of the Civilian Conservation Corps. As an avid and experienced marksman, Easley