PVT Claude Fant Lee

courtesy of J. Whitley

PVT Claude Fant Lee was born 4 Nov 1915 in Norwood, North Carolina the second of four children (two boys, two girls) born to Fant Moore and Beulah Jane (Gallimore) Lee. His father worked in a cotton mill. In 1931 his father was in an automobile accident which damaged his spine making him an invalid, and he died 8 Oct 1931 at age 42. In 1940 Claude his mother and and younger brother were all working as spinners in a cotton mill (probably Norwood Manufacturing Company) in Norwood, North Carolina.  Their combined reported income for 1939 was $1306 and from that they paid $4 a month in rent.

Claude was married by October 1943 when he was drafted.  After basic training he was sent to Europe and transferred from the replacement depot to H Company 116th Infantry on 19 Jun 1944.  Claude fought with H Company for a month before being killed in action on 19 Jul 1944.

PFC Lee was repatriated and re-interred with family in the Norwood Cemetery in Norwood, North Carolina.

Grandfather, George T. Lee was a PVT in A Troop, 4th North Carolina Cavalry during the Civil War.