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| Clifton Fomby served with the 2nd Marine Division in Tarawa. Older brother Odis Fomby served with the 106th Infantry Division in the Battle of the Bulge. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/31543212/clifton-earl-fomby https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/42815080/odis-britton-fomby |
Clifton E. Fomby never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on January 29, 1919 in Louisiana. His parents Oscar and Mattie were also both born in Louisiana. His father worked as a farmer. By 1930 Oscar was living in a US veteran's hospital. Clifton had an older sister, an older brother, a younger sister, and a younger brother. He worked as a farmer before his military service.
He joined the Marines on October 14, 1940. He became a sergeant in Company C, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. The 6th Marine Regiment was initially sent to Iceland to defend the island. It joined the rest of the 2nd MD on Guadalcanal in January 1943. It helped eliminate the remaining Japanese forces on the island. After that, it was sent to New Zealand to prepare for the invasion of Tarawa.
The 6th MR landed on Tarawa on November 21, 1943, D+1. Sgt. Fomby was killed in action the next day as his unit drove across the island. He was one of 99 men from his regiment who were killed in this battle.
He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star. His citation reads as follows.
When his company lost contact with supporting assault tanks, Sergeant Fomby courageously charged forward across an air-strip exposed to heavy enemy shellfire in order to regain contact. Discovering a strong hostile concrete emplacement threatening the advance of our forces, he successfully brought the support of the tanks against the enemy position, assuring its complete destruction. By his heroic self-sacrifice in the face of grave peril, Sergeant Fomby contributed immeasurably to the saving of many lives before he was killed by enemy shellfire during the perilous advance.
His gallant conduct and unswerving devotion to duty reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service, He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Thank you Clifton and Odis for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for the Fomby brothers.
Last year on this date I profiled Silver Star hero John Kirby, 5th Marine Division. You can read about John 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.
Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
Older brother Odis was drafted into the army on March 21, 1944. He became a private in the ill-lucked 106th Infantry Division which was overrun by the Germans during the Battle of the Bulge. Pvt. Fomby was killed in action on December 30, 1944.
Clifton's grave is at Bernice Cemetery in Bernice, Louisiana.
Last year on this date I profiled Silver Star hero John Kirby, 5th Marine Division. You can read about John 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
Thanks to George Prouix for pointing out this article with additional information about Clifton Fomby: http://tarawaontheweb.org/fomby.htm?fbclid=IwAR2P1Isrp991mIr4vojJt4uZqtTpVMamhrcOCVFswvP65EoIF4MvUYkBYDU
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