Clarence Roland Van Allen (1883 - 1964)

Born 28 Jul 1883 in West Newton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States

Died 29 Nov 1964 at age 81 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States

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Biography

Clarence Van Allen is Notable.

Corporal Clarence Van Allen served in the United States Army in World War I
Service started: 1917
Unit(s): 372nd Infantry Regiment
Service ended: 1919

Clarence Van Allen was awarded the Médaille Militaire.

Clarence Van Allen was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (United States).

Clarence Van Allen was a war hero from the 372nd Infantry Regiment, an all Black unit that fought with honor in World War I. For his bravery under fire, he won the Médaille militaire.^[1]

Clarence Roland Van Allen was born on 28 July 1883 in Newton, Massachusetts. He was the son of Frank Allen and Ann E. Johnson.^[2]

He served in France with the 372nd Infantry Battalion during World War I.^[3] While under fire Corporal Van Allen charged a German machine gun nest by himself, killing four of its crew and taking a further three Germans prisoner. For this action he was later awared the Distinguished Service Cross.^[4][5]

In 1920 Clarence was living in Boston with his wife Margaret and two children, Beatrice and Charles, aged 10 and 8 respectively.^[6] This marriage ended between 1920 and 1930; in 1930 Clarence was living with his second wife Christine.^[7] 1940 census shows them with a 4-year-old daughter.^[8]

Clarence died on 29 November 1964^[3] and was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery in Boston.^[9]

Research notes

His second wife died in 1966, but no last name at birth found for her. No further information on his first wife, no further information on his first two children, and did not find a census record with his parents that would provide an estimate of their ages. (used FamilySearch).

Sources

1. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Clarence Van Allen," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Clarence_Van_Allen&oldid=1011786861 (accessed March 21, 2021).
2. ↑ "Massachusetts Deaths, 1841-1915, 1921-1924", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FXDC-SFR : 27 October 2020), Clarence Allen, 1883.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} "United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3MH-K9PJ-H?cc=2968245 : 8 August 2019), > image 1 of 1; citing NARA microfilm publication 76193916 (St. Louis: National Archives and Records Administration, 1985).
4. ↑ Clarence Van Allen, Hall of Valor project, accessed March 2021.
5. ↑ Medal: Highest Honor France Confers Enlisted Man Goes To Black Soldier, Phoenix Tribune (Phoenix, Arizona), 12 Jul 1919, Sat, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112909327/highest-honor-france-confers-enlisted/
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFM5-CNC : 1 February 2021), Clarence R Van Allen, 1920.
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XQP6-VFT : accessed 21 March 2021), Clarence R Van Allen, Medford, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 332, sheet 12B, line 89, family 257, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 924; FHL microfilm 2,340,659.
8. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K4JB-5Q4 : 10 January 2021), Clarence R Van Allan, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 15-428, sheet 10B, line 64, family 238, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 1670.
9. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #216404420, database and images (accessed 21 March 2021), memorial page for Clarence R Van Allen (28 Jul 1883–29 Nov 1964), citing Mount Hope Cemetery, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, USA ; Maintained by R&B (contributor 49701778).

• "United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6KMQ-3PN5 : 10 February 2023), Clarence Roland Vanallen, .