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SSG Justin Davis
to remember
Van Meter, Clifford Tilden, Pfc.
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Contact Info
Home Town Parsons
Date of Passing Jun 30, 2003
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Last Known Activity:
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS CLIFFORD TILDEN VAN METER WAS A FARMER BEFORE HE ENTERED THE SERVICE ON 7 MARCH 1942. HE SERVED WITH ANTI-TANK COMPANY, 159TH INFANTRY REGIMENT. THE 159TH WAS ATTACHED TO THE 7TH INFANTRY DIVISION IN ALASKA WHERE PFC VAN METER SERVED FROM 5 AUGUST 1942 TO 9 AUGUST 1944. WHEN THE 159TH WENT TO EUROPE THEY WERE ATTACHED TO THE 106TH INFANTRY DIVISION PFC VAN METER SERVED IN EUROPE FROM 7 MARCH 1945 TO 24 OCTOBER 1945. AFTER RETURNING STATESIDE CLIFFORD WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED ON 9 NOVEMBER 1945 AT FORT GEORGE MEADE MARYLAND.
He was born at Close Mountain, a son of the late Tilden VanMeter and Bertha Evans VanMeter. On April 15, 1950 at Red House, Md, he was married to the former Bernice Knapp who survives. The had celebrated 53 years of marriage.
Also surviving are a brother Harold (and Vonda) VanMeter of
Location; a sister Bernice Knapp of Morrison, CO, and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by three brothers, Richard, Robert and Maurice VanMeter and seven sisters, Vina Shaffer, Versa Price, Arna Evans Mable Haesh, Hazel Dove, Julia Miller and Doris Matzel.
He attended ath one room school at Close Mountain, served with the U.S. Army during World War II, serving in the European Theatre.
WWII - European Theater of Operations/Northern France Campaign (1944)
From Month/Year
July / 1944
To Month/Year
September / 1944
Description (Northern France Campaign 25 July to 14 September 1944) Bombardment along a five-mile stretch of the German line enabled the Allies to break through on 25 July. While some armored forces drove southward into Brittany, others fanned out to the east and, overcoming a desperate counterattack, executed a pincers movement that trapped many Germans in a pocket at Falaise. The enemy fell back on the Siegfried Line, and by mid-September 1944 nearly all of France had been liberated. During these operations in France, while light and medium bombers and fighter-bomber aircraft of Ninth Air Force had been engaged in close support and interdictory operations, Eighth and Fifteenth Air Forces had continued their strategic bombing.
