James Hoyt Clonts was the son of James Henry Clonts and Dortha Fay Hawkins.
Sergeant James H. Clonts was assigned to the 813th Tank Destroyer Battalion. In January 1945 the battalion equipped with M36 Tank destroyers was engaged against German forces in the last offensive of the war Operation Nordwind. The Allied forces were already very battered and reinforcements had to be rushed to their support.
Sergeant Clonts was killed in action on 25 January 1945 and is interred at the Epinal American Cemetery, Epinal, France.
The Chattanooga Daily Times, 20 December 1945
Posthumous awards of the Soldier’s Medal and the Bronze Star to Sgt. James H. Clonts Jr., were recently presented his father, James H. Clonts of Isabella, Tenn., by Col. John A. Hoag, Fort Oglethorpe post commander. Present when Col. Hoag made the presentation at the post chapel were Ralph E. Clonts, who has re-enlisted in the army; Harmon S. and Charles R. Clonts, all of who served attempted rescue of a British army officer. The Bronze Star Medal was awarded for aiding in the destruction of four enemy tanks, two trucks, a half-track, an anti-tank gun, a mortar and approximately 50 enemy infantry troops.in foreign theaters. The Soldier’s Medal citation declared that Sgt. Clonts voluntarily participated in the
- Rank: Sergeant
- Date of death: 25 January 1945
- County: Polk
- Hometown: Isabella
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 813th Tank Destroyer Battalion
- Theater: Europe
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Soldiers Medal
- Burial/Memorial Location: Epinal American Cemetery, Epinal (Vosges), France
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XVI, Middle Panel
- Contact us to sponsor James H. Clonts
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