PVT Clyde Peterson

courtesy of Charles McGowen

PVT Clyde Peterson was born 16 Apr 1909 in Tunnel Hill, Illinois. He was the oldest of the 3 sons born to George Washington and Minnie A. (Hankley) Peterson. When Clyde was born his father farmed his own farm near Elvira, Illinois and did so for another 30+ years. Minnie died in 1922. In 1930, Clyde was working as hired labor on a farm near Saratoga, Illinois. Before 1940 Clyde married Elva Mae Vaughn, also of Johnson County, Illinois and in 1940 he was living with her in Johnson County and working in one of the jobs created by the U.S. government in response to the great depression. The couple reported a 1939 income of just $236.

After being drafted Clyde was sent to England and assigned to F Company 116th Infantry. He participated in the training for the amphibious assault and took place in that action at Omaha Beach on 6 Jun 1944. He survived that, apparently uninjured, and fought with that unit until killed in action on 15 Jun 1944.

PVT Peterson was repatriated and re-interred in Bethelem Cemetery in Tunnel Hill, Illinois.

Elva did not remarry and died on 23 Feb 1946, aged 32-years.