Clarence J. Anderson was the only son of Andrew Anderson and the late Betsy Elizabeth Anderson. He was born in Sheridan, Montana, on October 4th, 1897. His mother died when he was only sixteenth months old, leaving the bringing up of the child to his father, and from that time on until Clarence entered the army, the two worked and chummed together and were pals through all the ups and downs of life.

After the boy had received his education in Sheridan, father and son moved from place to place in Montana, Idaho, and Nevada, following the mining lure. They made many friends in Twin Bridges, Montana, Twin Falls, Idaho, and Jarbidge, Nevada. Andy Anderson, the veteran prospector, nearly seventy years of age, and his stalwart son, Clarence, still in his teens, were well known in northern Elko County. Soon after the war broke out with Germany, Clarence went north into Wyoming and enlisted in the army at Kemmerer, (May 30th, 1917). He was, placed in Company G, 164th Infantry, 41st Division. Before going overseas in December, he was at different times on both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, and as far south as the Carolinas.

After his arrival in France, his father received cheerful, encouraging letters from him. In one of them, he wrote: “Don’t worry, Dad, we all will be coming back to the old U. S. A., and coming back with victory in a short time…

I still have Mother’s watch and always will have it. The last letter was written was dated September 18, 1918, and in it, he offered financial help in case his father should need it. Very soon after this, he was transferred to Company E, 315th Infantry, 79th Division, with replacements from the 41st (Depot) Division. The 79th went into action in the Meuse-Argonnd region on September 26th, south of Malancourt. They passed Montfaucon and were in position west of Mantillois on the 30th of the month when the 3d Division relieved them. From October 8th to October 25th, they held a part of the sector north of St. Mihiel and on the 30th again took their position in the Meuse-Argonne drive, this time in the Bois de Consenvoye, east of the Meuse and about fifteen kilometers north of Verdun. They relieved the 29th Division. This was the battle in which Private, 1st Class, Clarence Anderson gave up his life for the Flag. He was killed in action on November 5th, 1918, at a point south of the road leading from Sivry-sur-Meuse to Damvillers. There can be no doubt but that he answered the call in the same spirit in which he volunteered his services to his Country.

He lies now in Grave 1 72, Section 68, Plot 4, Argonne-American Cemetery I 232, Romagne-Sous-Montfaucon, Department of Meuse. His father is living in Butte, Montana.