PVT Clarence E. Derflinger

courtesy of SoilSister

PVT Clarence E. Derflinger was born in May 1900 in Front Royal, Virginia the 8th of 13 children born to Charles William and Hulda Regina (Figgins) Derflinger. His father was a section hand for the railroad and farmed.

Clarence enlisted in the 2nd Virginia Infantry, Virginia National Guard on 30 Jul 1917 when they recruited to respond to the emergency on the Mexican border.  When the regiment was reorganized PVT Derflinger was assigned to I Company 116th Infantry. He was still with the unit when it was federalized for service in France and served with the unit as it trained at Camp McClellan, Alabama.  He sailed with the unit on 15 Jun 1918 when they departed for France aboard the USS Finland.  PVT Derflinger was killed in action on 15 Oct 1918 in the battle at Molleville Farm.

PVT Derflinger was buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.

Clarence's older brothers, Carley and Russell, served during WWI.  Younger brother Charles served in WWII.