World War II Honoree
Killed In Action
Francis E. Clark
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Douglas, Massachusetts
Honored By
Robert S. Cox
ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE ON JULY 5, 1935, LONG BEFORE THE UNITED STATES ENTERED THE WAR. VOLUNTEERED FOR SERVICE WITH PARACHUTE FORCES AND UPON COMPLETION OF TRAINING WAS AWARDED THE BASIC PARACHUTIST BADGE (SILVER PARATROOPER WINGS). SERVED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AT CAMP MACKALL AT HOFFMAN, NORTH CAROLINA, AND CAMP FORREST AT TULLAHOMA, TENNESSEE. STAGED WITH HIS UNIT AT CAMP MYLES STANDISH AT BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS ON AUGUST 13, 1944 AWAITING OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT. SAILED FROM THE BOSTON PORT OF EMBARKATION ON AUGUST 20, 1944 AND ARRIVED IN ENGLAND ON AUGUST 28, 1944. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH THE 513TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 17TH AIRBORNE DIVISION DURING THE WAR, INCLUDING IN ENGLAND, FRANCE, AND BELGIUM IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO). PARTICIPATED IN THE RHINELAND, AND ARDENNES-ALSACE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE) CAMPAIGNS. HIS REGIMENT WAS FLOWN TO THE REIMS AREA IN FRANCE ON DECEMBER 24, 1944, IN RESPONSE TO THE GERMAN ARDENNES COUNTEROFFENSIVE, AND CROSSED INTO BELGIUM THE FOLLOWING DAY. HIS UNIT ASSUMED DEFENSIVE POSITIONS ALONG THE MEUSE RIVER FROM DECEMBER 27-31, 1944, MOVED TO THE NEUFCHATEAU AREA ON JANUARY 1, 1945, AND ATTACKED NORTHWEST OF BASTOGNE, BELGIUM ON JANUARY 3, 1945. FIRST LIEUTENANT CLARK WAS KILLED IN ACTION ON JANUARY 7, 1945 DURING COMBAT OPERATIONS WITH HIS REGIMENT IN THE RECHRIVAL-FLAMIERGE AREA DURING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART FOR WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE SERVICE STARS (2 CAMPAIGNS), AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL.