World War II Honoree

Clyde C. Cloer

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Bryson City, North Carolina

Honored By

Leroy M. Cloer

Relationship

Brother

JOINED ARMY AFTER PEARL HARBOR. SERVED IN 3RD INFANTRY DIVISION, 7TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 3RD BATTALION, HEADQUARTERS COMPANY. MADE THE ASSAULT LANDING IN CASABLANCA ON NOVEMBER 8, 1942, FOUGHT THROUGH ALGERIA AND INTO TUNISIA. MADE THE ASSAULT LANDING ON SICILY JULY 10, 1943 AND FOUGHT UNDER GENERAL PATTON THROUGH PALERMO TOWARDS MESSINA. MADE THE ASSAULT LANDING ON SALERNO, ITALY ON SEPTEMBER 18, 1943 AND FOUGHT NORTHWARD TO THE GUSTAV WINTER LINE AND CASSINO. LANDED ON ANZIO BEACHHEAD JANUARY 22, 1944 AND MAINTAINED DEFENSIVE POSITIONS WHILE BEING SUBJECT TO VIOLENT GERMAN COUNTERATTACKS. ON MAY 23, 1944 MADE THE 'BREAKOUT' FROM THE ANZIO BEACHHEAD NORTHWARD TO ROME. FREED ROME ON JUNE 4, 1944 AND PREPARED TO MAKE THE SOUTHERN FRANCE ASSAULT LANDING SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 15, 1944. AFTER THE ASSAULT LANDING THE 3RD INFANTRY DIVISION WORKED ITS WAY NORTH THROUGH THE VOSGES MOUNTAINS. FOUGHT ITS WAY NORTH ST. DIE AND STRASBOURG BY THE WINTER OF 1944. MAINTAINED DEFENSIVE POSITIONS DURING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. CROSSED THE RHINE RIVER IN LATE MARCH 1945. WON A BRONZE STAR MEDAL ON MARCH 16, 1945 HEROISM IN COMBAT DURING THE RHINELAND CAMPAIGN. AT WAR'S END, THE 3RD INFANTRY DIVISION WAS NEAR SALZBURG AND WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN FREEING THE DACHAU CONCENTRATION CAMP. AWARDS INCLUDE: BRONZE STAR MEDAL WITH V DEVICE AND BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER FROM POST WAR CONGRESSIONAL ACTION, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, PURPLE HEART MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN RIBBON WITH 5 ARROWHEADS AND 10 CAMPAIGN STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH GERMANY BAR, ARMY PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR COLMAR POCKET COMBAT ACTION. RETURNED TO THE U.S. LATE IN 1945. HONORABLE DISCHARGE WITH LAPEL PIN.