World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Harry A. Clawson
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Safford, Arizona
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: STAFF SERGEANT. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE UNITED STATES ARMY SEPTEMBER 2, 1942 AT PHOENIX, ARIZONA AND RECEIVED HIS PARATROOPER TRAINING AT CAMP TOCCOA AND FORT BENNING, GEORGIA. SERVED WITH HOTEL COMPANY, 3RD BATTALION, 506TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 101ST AIRBORNE ‘SCREAMING EAGLES’ DIVISION. MAJOR BATTLES AND CAMPAIGNS: BATTLE OF NORMANDY, D-DAY AND MARKET GARDEN, INVASION OF HOLLAND. ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1944 HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION BY GERMAN ARTILLERY SHELLING AND MORTAR FIRE DURING THE FIERCE BATTLE OF OPHEUSDEN. HE WAS REPORTED AS MISSING IN ACTION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1945 AND IS MEMORIALIZED IN THE TABLETS OF THE MISSING, NETHERLANDS AMERICAN CEMETERY AND MEMORIAL LOCATED AT MARGRATEN, NETHERLANDS. IN DECEMBER OF 1971, A DUTCH NURSERYMAN FOUND HIS REMAINS IN AN UNMARKED FIELD GRAVE NEAR OPHEUSDEN. THE UNITED STATES ARMY GRAVES REGISTRATION SERVICE IN FRANKFURT, GERMANY IDENTIFIED THE SOLDIER BY HIS DOG TAGS, BOOTS AND DENTAL RECORDS. HE WAS RETURNED TO HIS COUNTRY AND FAMILY, WITH INTERMENT IN THE THATCHER CEMETERY, THATCHER ARIZONA ON MAY 8, 1972 WITH MILITARY HONORS. DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS: SILVER STAR, BRONZE STAR AND THE PURPLE HEART WITH A BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER. THE SILVER STAR WAS BESTOWED UPON THE SERGEANT FOR DISTINGUISHED GALLANTRY IN ACTION AND VALOR IN COMBAT AGAINST AN ENEMY FORCE IN THE BATTLE OF NORMANDY. THE BRONZE STAR WAS AWARDED POSTHUMOUSLY FOR BRAVERY, ACT OF MERIT AND MERITORIOUS SERVICE IN COMBAT IN THE NETHERLANDS CAMPAIGN. THIS SOLDIER, AN AMERICAN PATRIOT, WAS AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART POSTHUMOUSLY, WHO GALLANTLY GAVE HIS LIFE FOR HIS COUNTRY. FROM THE BATTLEFIELDS OF NORMANDY, HOLLAND, GERMANY AND STOPPING AT THE EAGLE’S NEST IN BERCHTESGADEN, HIS DIVISION WAS AWARDED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH 1 OAK LEAF CLUSTER, FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM, BELGIAN CROIX DE GUERRE, THE BELGIUM FOURRAGERE AND THE ORANGE LANYARD OF THE ROYAL NETHERLANDS ARMY FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION AGAINST THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES.