PVT William Francis Clifford
Today we honor and remember Private William Francis Clifford of the 101st Airborne Division.
Private (PVT) William Francis Clifford of Dog Company, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, was born on February 17, 1923.
William spent most of his childhood in Saint Johnsbury, Vermont, the hometown of his birth. He attended public schools growing up, joined Saint Johnsbury Academy for three years, and then graduated from the Lyndon Institute in 1941.
PVT Clifford absolutely loved sports but his passion was skiing. While in high school he competed on many of Vermont’s best trails and eventually this love for skiing would lead him to become a ski instructor at the Snow Valley Ski School during the 1941 – 1942 season.
In the summer of 1942, William became a thread grinder at Vermont Tap and Die Co., before being hired at Jones & Lamson Machine Company in Springfield, Vermont. Despite this new job, he would make a bold decision to resign so he could answer the call to serve his nation in time of war.
William Clifford enlisted in the United States Army at Rutland, Vermont, on November 12, 1942.
Private Clifford reported to Fort Devens in Massachusetts. There he was was given orders and sent to Camp Toccoa, Georgia, to join the ranks of the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR). He would then successfully complete the parachute jump school at Fort Benning, Georgia.
In April 1943, after passing his examinations at Toccoa, he was sent to Princeton University to study engineering. But in September of that same year, William was moved to Amherst College, Massachusetts, to study a preparatory course for a chance of attending the Military Academy of West Point. While he successfully completed the course in March 1944, he was disqualified for unknown physical reasons and not accepted into West Point.
In June 1944, PVT Clifford returned to the Army at Camp Breckenridge, Kentucky, followed by an assignment at Fort George C. Meade, Maryland. Finally in September 1944, he was deployed to England as a member of a replacement unit.
William would be reassigned to Dog Company, 501st PIR, 101st Airborne Division on November 29, 1944, while the Screaming Eagles were at Mourmelon, France, enjoying some rest and recuperation after their combat in the Netherlands for Operation Market Garden.
His last letter from France was dated December 20th, after which his parents had received two more letters written to them from Belgium, dated December 29th and 30th. With the start of the last major German offensive, known as the Battle of the Bulge, the 501st PIR was rushed to Bastogne, Belgium, on December 18, in order to stop the enemy’s assault.
His last letter to his mom and dad was dated January 1st, written two days before he lost his life at the Belgium frontline. At 0830 hours on January 3, 1945, his unit left its assembly area prior to the upcoming attack. Sometime that day, PCT William Clifford would draw his last breath when he was killed in action.
Fred R. Clifford and Eva D. (Manning) Clifford received a letter of condolences, signed by the 101st Airborne Division Commander, General Maxwell Taylor. In the letter he wrote,
“I wish to take this opportunity of expressing my deep personal sympathy to you in the loss of your son, Private William F. Clifford, 11085621. He was killed in action on 3 January 1945 while fighting gallantly with our forces in the defense of Bastogne, Belgium. This key city was successfully defended and the great German counter-offensive stopped only because there were men like your son willing to die rather than fall back. His courageous example has had a profound influence on all who knew him and his memory will always remain with those who fought with him in this decisive action.”
Another Screaming Eagle had soared to the ultimate height. 🦅
PVT William Clifford was buried in a one of the many makeshift battlefield cemeteries before he was re-interred and finally laid to rest at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Saint Johnsbury, Caledonia County, Vermont.
Happy Birthday in Heaven, William. Rest in peace.
Lest we forget. 🇺🇸
Resources
Unknown Newspaper article at his memorial page at Find a Grave