The new National Guard armory in Clinton, named for two veterans  who during World War II, Alva A. French of Calhoun and Leonard O. Taggart of Windsor, will be dedicatied at 2:30 o'clock Sunday afternoon.

Maj. Gen. D. Sheppard. ot J fefferson City, Missouri adjudant general, will speak and Mai. Gen. John C. McLaughlin, of Sedalia, commanding general of the 35th Division, will give the history of the Clinton National Guard unit. The Dedicatory address will be by Brig. Gen. L. L. Heinlein of Jefferson City, director of National Guard facilities. Maj. William L. Chick of Windsor will introduce the distingguished guests. Following the program there will be a tour of the building located in the Artesian Park and refreshments will ve served. The new armory is the home of Company E, 2nd Medium Tank Battalion (Patton), 203rd Armor, the new name for the Clinton guard unit. It is commanded by Lt. Harold Smith. The bronze plaque in thehuilding reads: 

The French-Taggart Memorial Armory dedicated to the memory of T/4 Alva A. French and Pfc. Leonard O. Taggart, former members of

Btry. E. 128th FA Regt., Missouri National Guard, Clinton, who lost their lives in the service of their country in 1944 during World War II. “Citizen Soldier . .  Bulwark of Our Liberties-G. Washington. "Taggart was seriously wounded Nov. 11, 1944  in France and died the following day in a hospital at Lorraine; was buried with military honors in the Military Cemetery at Lorraine.

Taggart enlisted   in 1940 with the Clinton Battery’ B and he and his brother, Kenneth, were sent overseas at the same time in 1943. He was the ninth to killed from Windsor in World War II. The Purple Heart Medal was awarded posthumously and received by his father, George Taggart. French enlisted in 1941 and was as killed in action in Belgium  Jan.17, 1945 after having ben overseas for a year. He was with the 6th Armored Division and was  awarded the Bronze Medal Aug.7, 1944 in French was the son of Mr. and Mrs Manley J. French, who lived in Windsor for years before moving to the Calhoun vicinity. 

He worked at the International shoe factory here at one time. The father and one brother Fred French, reside near Calhoun now.

 

The Windsor Review 

(Windsor, Missouri)

04 Jun 1959, Thu  • Page 1

 

Alva A. French

Sergeant, U.S. Army

231st Field Artillery Battalion, 6th Armored Division

Entered the Service From: Missouri

Service #: 2446804

Buried: Greenlawn Memorial Park 

Columbia, Richland County

South Carolina, USA

Awards: Purple Heart, Bronze Star