WW2 Anzio Fallen - Clarence Peak, 45th Infantry Division + McGeorge Bundy

PFC Clarence Peak served with the 45th Infantry Division at Anzio.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/111294042/clarence-allen-peak
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/538672805423192691/?lp=true 

Clarence Allen Peak never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on March 30, 1919 in Tennessee. His parents Jessie and Maggie were also both born in Tennessee. His father worked as a section hand laborer. Clarence had one older brother, one younger brother, and two younger sisters. Both brothers also served in the war. By 1940 Clarence had completed five years of education and was living with his family. He found work as a driver. 

He was drafted into the army on December 1, 1942. At some point after joining the army, PFC Peak was married. I don't know the maiden name of his wife Lucille. He eventually became a private first class in the 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division (nicknamed "Thunderbirds"). 

The 45th Infantry Division took part in the invasion of Sicily and the landing at Salerno. Next it was sent to participate in the Anzio landing. I am not sure at what point PFC Peak joined his unit, but his regiment took horrendous casualties at Anzio, so he was probably a replacement that arrived between February and May. A home state newspaper from July 16 1944 listed PFC Peak as wounded in action. However, his gravestone shows he died on May 23, 1944. Based on this information it was likely that PFC Peak succumbed to wounds sustained during the Anzio fighting.

His grave is at Wilson County Memorial Park in Lebanon, Tennessee. I don't know what happened to his widow.

Thank you PFC Peak for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Clarence.

MCGEORGE BUNDY
Also born on March 30, 1919 was McGeorge Bundy. He was born into a prominent Boston family. His father was a high ranking State Department figure in the early 1930s and in the War Department during the war. After graduating from Yale University with a math degree, McGeorge joined the US Navy despite his poor eyesight. He was assigned to serve as an intelligence officer and finished the war with the rank of captain.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajhAdGazz0M

After the war he completed more studies at Harvard and became a Harvard professor specializing in government studies. He became President Kennedy's National Security Advisor. He was a strong proponent of the Vietnam War in order to contain communism. He died in 1996.

Last year on this date I profiled Dale Dotts, Sixth Army HQ. You can read about Dale 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.

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