Army PFC Clarence Eugene Van Gorder Jr. was born in Warren Ohio on December 24, 1925, the son of Clarence Eugene Sr. (1894-1969) and Daisy Arabelle Parker (1899-1970). His father served in the Navy from 1912 to 1916 and was listed again in WWII. His wife Daisy was a lifelong Pensacolian that he may have met while stationed here. In the meantime, his father relocated here sometime before 1940 and would pass away here as well.
As for Clarence Jr., he would graduate from Pensacola High School in the Class of 1943 before taking a job at NAS Civil Service. He was living at home with his family at the time of his enlistment on April 4, 1944 before he was sent to Ft. McPherson, Georgia for processing. After completion of his training, he was sent to the 341st Infantry Regiment with the 86th Infantry Division. The "Blackhawk" division arrived in France in March 1945 and quickly drove into Germany, where it was thrust into fierce fighting in the Ruhr Valley.
On April 21st, the division overran Ansback and continued its advance toward Eichstatt, Germany. After a sharp fight the town was finally captured, and it was here that PFC Clarence Van Gorder was killed in action on April 25th. His body was carried to the graves registration unit and then buried in a temporary military cemetery. In 1948, his remains were disinterred and transported to Pensacola per his family's request. They were loaded onto the SS Carroll Victory and upon arrival were buried in Barrancas National Cemetery.
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