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| Lt. Clarence Armstrong served with these men from the 34th Infantry Regiment in the First Battle of Monte Cassino. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/33833752 https://www.pinterest.fr/pin/538672805412496034/ |
Clarence Allen Armstrong never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on December 20, 1917 in Ohio. His parents Luther and Annis were also both born in Ohio. His father worked as a saw mill engineer and later as a railroad car inspector. Clarence had two older brother, three older sisters, one younger brother and three younger sisters. By 1940 Clarence had completed two years of college at Ohio State University and was working as a railroad brakeman. He was still living at home.
He enlisted in the army on February 4, 1942. He became a first lieutenant in Company B, 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division (Nicknamed "Red Bull").
The 34th ID first saw action in Algeria in November 1942. It landed at Salerno, Italy in September 1943. In January 1944 its position had advanced to the Bernhardt Line. I don't know when Lt. Armstrong joined his unit. The Red Bulls took significant casualties and was in constant need of replacements. Lieutenants had to be replaced on a more frequent basis than most troops.
On January 24, 1944 the Red Bulls crossed the Gari River and attacked Monastery Hill, a target that would not fall cheaply during the effort to take Monte Cassino. Lt. Armstrong died of wounds on this first day of the attack. Overall the 34th ID's infantry battalions would sustain 80% casualties over the next three weeks.
The allies would suffer more than 55,000 casualties before Monte Cassino was finally taken four months later.
His grave is at King Cemetery in Middle Point, Ohio.
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.
Join the public Facebook group WW2 Fallen 100
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