From France, the unit moved quickly into the Netherlands in preparation for an offensive into Nazi Germany. In World War II, the "Railsplitter" division landed on Omaha Beach in Normandy in early November 1944, five months after D-Day (June 6, 1944). The 84th Infantry Division was formed in 1917, the year the United States entered World War I. We don't need any more war stuff,” said Clanton.84th Infantry Division Campaigns during World War II We need to get along with each other, understand each other and help each other. They all expressed their pride and gratitude for his service to our nation as a Soldier of the greatest generation. He was also presented with the Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three bronze service stars, World War II Victory Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Honorable Service Lapel Button for WWII.Ĭlanton’s wife, Carolynn, and several of his family members were present during the surprise ceremony held in his honor. The Bronze Star was presented to a surprised Clanton in recognition of his contributions in combat operations during World War II. Army North paid special tribute to Clanton’s service, awarding him long-overdue medals. In a ceremony held May 16, 2022, at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, U.S. Overall, Clanton spent more than 250 days in combat across France, Belgium and Germany, with more than 90 in direct combat in France.Ĭlanton returned home from combat and was discharged without his awards and service records, which was common at the time. They were finally stopped at the Elbe River, when Eisenhower made the decision for Russians to take Berlin. In February 1945, the 84th Infantry Division crossed the Roer River and then moved to cross the Rhine River by April 1945. After defeating the Germans in Ardennes, he was reattached to the 335th Infantry Regiment, as the entire 84th Infantry Division moved back to the Siegfried Line near Lindern. There, his team moved into the most forward positions to call for artillery fire on the Germans. During that time, Clanton was transferred to Third Army to serve in a forward artillery observer team in the Ardennes region. The 84th Infantry Division was able to hold Marche for the next two weeks. Clanton and his fellow Soldiers drove all night and arrived the next day just in time to reach the Germans head-on. A few weeks later he was assigned to serve as a forward artillery observer on the front lines with the infantry, as they penetrated the Siegfried Line in the vicinity of Lindern.Īfter a successful campaign to take Lindern, they were ordered on December 19, 1944, to move south to stop the German advance in Marche. He immediately entered combat in Aachen along the Siegfried Line. On November 5, 1944, Clanton was transferred to his primary unit, Cannon Company, 335th Infantry Regiment, 84th Infantry Division (now 84th Training Command), as the unit traveled through Paris toward the Siegfried Line. He survived to continue fighting through France, Belgium, and Germany, including the liberation of France in Saint-Lo and Brest. His first combat assignment in a forward artillery observer team with the 29th Infantry Division landed him on Omaha Beach on D-Day. Eisenhower called a crusade in which, "we will accept nothing less than full victory." The cost in lives was high, with more than 9,000 Allied Soldiers killed or wounded. More than 160,000 Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of the heavily-fortified French coastline in what Gen. Today, June 6, 2022, marks the 78th anniversary of D-Day, when Allied Forces launched the largest military invasion by land, air and sea in history to retake Northwest Europe from Nazi forces. JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas –
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