World War II Honoree

Clair R. Coats

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Sand Springs, Oklahoma

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Sergeant. On February 23, 1943, he entered the United States Army at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, deployed to the European Theater of Operations upon the completion of his combat infantry training. Served with the 15th Regiment, Third Infantry ‘Rock of Marne’ Division attached to the U.S. Seventh Army. His division participated in the invasion of Southern France against the German armed forces (Battle Dates: August 15-September 14, 1944) Code Name: Operation Dragon. Killed in Action near St. Maxime, France on Saturday, August 19, 1944 and buried in the Draguignan Cemetery in Saint Raphael, France. After the cessation of hostilities in Europe, his family requested that his remains be reinterred at the Rhone American Cemetery and Memorial in Draguignan, France. This Soldier, an American Patriot, awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, who so gallantly gave his life for his country.