US Army PFC Clarence Eugene Van Gorder Jr. was born in Warren, Turnbull County, Ohio on December 24, 1925, the son of Clarence Eugene Van Gorder Sr. (1894-1969) and Daisy Arabelle Summerville (1899-1970). His father was previously in the US Navy from 1912 until his discharge in 1916 prior to WWI. He and Daisy were both from Ohio and married in 1916 and four years later they owned a restaurant in Lake Charles, Louisiana. By 1930, they were in Howland, Turnbull County, Ohio where his father was supporting the family as a salesman in a dry goods store. Ten years later, they were still in Howland but he was now a millwright. The family would relocate to Pensacola in 1941 where Clarence Sr. went to work for the Civil Service at NAS as an inspector.
In the meantime, Clarence Jr. would enroll in Pensacola High School where he would graduate in 1943. Upon graduation, he went to work at NAS with the Civil Service just like his father. The family home was established at #3 South "G" Street from which he would leave to enlist in the US Army on April 26, 1944. From there, he was sent to Ft. McPherson in Atlanta, Georgia for processing and orientation. After basic training, he was assigned to the 341st Infantry Regiment with the 86th Infantry Division.
He and his regiment set sail for England, arriving on March 3, 1945. They were assigned to the 15th Army and entered combat on March 29. By April 21, they had been assigned to the 3rd Army and were advancing on Ansbach, Germany. After its capture, they moved on to take the town of Eichstatt by April 25 where Private Van Gorder was killed in action.
His remains were buried in a military cemetery until after the war at which time they were returned to Pensacola per the request of his family. He was buried in Barrancas National Cemetery in November 1948 with full military honors.









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