Memorial

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Pfc Francis X Clarke graduated from St Michaels High School in 1942 where he was a skilled soccer player.

He enlisted on 20 February 1943 in New York City. He was selected for the Army Specialized Training Program (A.S.T.P.) where he studied engineering at Louisiana State University.

His brother James served as a radio operator and gunner with the 8th Air Force in Europe. He flew 69 missions before returning home.

During one dark night, Pfc Clark was on the alert in his foxhole when a tremendous barrage began blasting his company’s position. A piece of shrapnel seriously wounded him in the back. The next day he was to be the demolition man in an attack on a pillbox.

Realizing how much he was needed in the position, Pfc Clarke had his buddy bandage his back and made him promise not to tell anyone. The next day the company commander came to the foxhole and found him lying on the ground. Pfc Clarke immediately attempted to sit up but could not. At the captain’s orders, Clarke removed his shirt and disclosed his serious wound.

The captain ordered him to be evacuated immediately, but after long minutes of persuasion he finally agreed to permit Clarke to do his job on the offensive, on the condition the he was evacuated immediately upon their objective was taken. As H-hour approached the case seemed hopeless. But there was Clarke, the one-man demolition squad. Crawling about 50 yards under heavy fire he reached the large pillbox and placed his charge in the embrasure. The result was the taking of 14 prisoners.

Pfc Clarke personally took charge of them and marched them off to the rear. Fate took its hand – on the way back the prisoner in the lead stepped on a mine and he and Clarke were killed. Because Clarke’s foremost thought was the success of his company, despite his back wound, his mother now wears the Silver Star for her son’s outstanding service to his country.