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| Clarence Rice, 1st Infantry Division, was captured by the Italians in Tunisia. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7685250/clarence-r-rice https://www.pinterest.com/pin/538672805405872077/?lp=true |
Clarence R. Rice never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on January 19, 1919 in Laurel, Kentucky. His parents Robert and Ollie were also both born in Kentucky. His father worked as a railroad section hand. He lived to be 100 years old. Clarence had four younger brothers and a younger sister. By 1940 Clarence had completed one year of college and was still living at home.
He was drafted into the army on January 30, 1942. He became a private in Company A, 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division.
Pvt. Rice took part in the 1st ID's invasion of North Africa in November 1942. He had the bad luck of being one of the first Americans captured by the Axis forces on December 23, 1942. He was sent to an Italian prison camp in Italy. When the Italians quit the Axis, the Germans took control of all the American prisoners.
In May 1944 his family received a letter from the International Red Cross that reported Pvt. Rice had been killed in a landslide on April 27, 1944.
His grave is at Andes Cemetery in East Bernstadt, Kentucky.
Last year on this date I profiled P-47 pilot Claude Rahn. You can read about Claude here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
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