French Ellis Claiborne was the son of French Haggard Claiborne and Sarrah Mae “Fellie” Ellison. Husband of Anna Bell Ball and father of Dorothy Jane Claiborne.
Private French Ellis Claiborne was assigned to the 110th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division. On 16th December 1944 the 28th Division was holding a defensive position on the Our River in the Ardennes Forest while supplies and replacements could be built up after the rapid advance across France. On that day the German Army launched its last offensive of the war which came to be known as the Battle of the Bulge.
Private Claiborne was killed in action on 20 December 1944 and was initially buried at Foy Cemetery at Bastogne, Belgium. He is interred at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, Belgium, located in G,12,23.
The Knoxville Journal, 30 March 1945
Pvt. French E. Claiborne, 27, son of Mr. and Mrs. F.H. Claiborne and husband of Mrs. Annabell Claiborne of Morristown, was killed in Luxembourg, Dec. 20, his family has been notified. Private Claiborne had been reported missing in action. He entered the Army in April, 1944, and went overseas last October. Additional survivors include a daughter, Dorothy Jane, and a half-sister, Mrs. Jake Cupp, and half-brother, Alvin E. Claiborne, both of LaFollette.
- Rank: Private
- Date of birth: 15 January 1917
- Date of death: 20 December 1944
- County: Hamblen
- Hometown: 1917-01-15
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 110th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division
- Theater: Europe
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Purple Heart
- Burial/Memorial Location: Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, Henri-Chapelle, Belgium
- Location In Memorial: Pillar X, Top Panel
- Contact us to sponsor French E. Claiborne
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