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MAJ Mark E Cooper
to remember
McElveen, Clifford D., SFC.
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SFC Clifford D. McElveen dies of cancer at the age of 56 on 17 November 1981. He was born 12 December, 1924 in Atlanta, Georgia and entered active military service in June 1943. Cliff served in combat with the 1st Special Service Force and continued service with varied Infantry units until the reactivation of Special Forces in 1952. He served with the 10th Special Forces Group in Germany, both Special Forces and 82nd Airborne Division assignments at Fort Bragg before completing his active military service with the 5th Special Forces Group in the Republic of Vietnam, where he served from 1966 to 1968. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star w/OLC, Meritorious Unit Citation, National Defense Service Medal w/BS, Army Commendation Medal w/3 OLC, Master parachutist Badge, Vietnam Service Medal w/4 BS, Vietnam Campaign Medal w/60 Device, and 4 Battle Stars, Good Conduct Medal w/5 knots, American Theater Ribbon, European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon w/4 service stars, WWII Victory Medal, and Vietnamese Jump Wings. He was buried in the Fort Bragg Post Cemetery with full military honors following a memorial service held in the JFK Chapel. Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Ramona L. McElveen, a stepson, Jimmy Z. Petrouski, a son, Clifford D. McElveen, Jr., a daughter, Mrs. Robin M. Quichocho, all of Fayetteville, and his mother, Mrs. Mary A. McElveen of Stanton, VA.
WWII - European Theater of Operations/Southern France Campaign (1944)/Operation Dragoon
From Month/Year
August / 1944
To Month/Year
September / 1944
Description Operation Dragoon (initially Operation Anvil) was the code name for the landing operation of the Allied invasion of Provence (Southern France) on 15 August 1944. The operation was initially planned to be executed in conjunction with Operation Overlord, the Allied landing in Normandy, but the lack of available resources led to a cancellation of the second landing. By July 1944 the landing was reconsidered, as the clogged-up ports in Normandy did not have the capacity to adequately supply the Allied forces. Concurrently, the French High Command pushed for a revival of the operation that would include large numbers of French troops. As a result, the operation was finally approved in July to be executed in August.
The goal of the invasion was to secure the vital ports on the French Mediterranean coast and increase pressure on the German forces by opening another front. After some preliminary commando operations, the US VI Corps landed on the beaches of the Côte d'Azur under the shield of a large naval task force, followed by several divisions of the French Army B. They were opposed by the scattered forces of the German Army Group G, which had been weakened by the relocation of its divisions to other fronts and the replacement of its soldiers with third-rate Ostlegionen outfitted with obsolete equipment.
Hindered by Allied air supremacy and a large-scale uprising by the French Resistance, the weak German forces were swiftly defeated. The Germans withdrew to the north through the Rhône valley, to establish a stable defense line at Dijon. Allied mobile units were able to overtake the Germans and partially block their route at the town of Montélimar. The ensuing battle led to a stalemate, with neither side able to achieve a decisive breakthrough, until the Germans were finally able to complete their withdrawal and retreat from the town. While the Germans were retreating, the French managed to capture the important ports of Marseille and Toulon, soon putting them into operation.
The Germans were not able to hold Dijon and ordered a complete withdrawal from Southern France. Army Group G retreated further north, pursued by Allied forces. The fighting ultimately came to a stop at the Vosges mountains, where Army Group G was finally able to establish a stable defense line. After meeting with the Allied units from Operation Overlord, the Allied forces were in need of reorganizing and, facing stiffened German resistance, the offensive was halted on 14 September. Operation Dragoon was considered a success by the Allies. It enabled them to liberate most of Southern France in just four weeks while inflicting heavy casualties on the German forces, although a substantial part of the best German units were able to escape. The captured French ports were put into operation, allowing the Allies to solve their supply problems quickly.