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| PFC Clarence Justen served in the 95th Infantry Division in France and Germany. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/70075186/clarence-j-justen https://pikstagram.com/capajo02 |
Clarence Justen never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on May 19, 1919 in Cando, North Dakota. His parents Stephen and Elizabeth were both born in Illinois. His father worked as a farmer. His mother died in 1935. Clarence had two older brothers, two older sisters and a younger brother. Clarence completed a grammar school level of education and worked in construction. He married Jolitta Bolanos and they had a boy and a girl.
He was drafted into the army in May 1942. He became a private first class in Company B, 1st Battalion, 378th Infantry Regiment, 95th Infantry Division. The 95th ID arrived in England in August 1944 and in October went into combat near Metz in northeastern France, where it earned the nickname “The Iron Men of Metz” for repulsing repeated German attacks.
Having reached the east side of the Rhine near Beckam, Germany by early April, the 95th ID was tasked with attacking across the Lippe River on April 4, 1945. PFC Justen was killed during this action.
His grave is at St. Marys Catholic Cemetery in McHenry, Illinois. I don't know what happened to his widow, after she remarried, or their children.
Last year on this date I profiled Glen Miller, USS Porter and Band of Brother's officer Norman Dike. You can read about Glen 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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