Carl Wayne Gray Genealogies
English
Blessing, Harry Clifford
1907 - 1990 (83 years)-
Name Blessing, Harry Clifford Birth 30 May 1907 Clay City, Clay County, Illinois 
[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6] Gender Male Occupation Aviator [5] Reference Number BLES.H001 _FGRAVE 50078260 Military Service World War II, Private First Class, Company C, 359th Engineer General Service Regiment, United States Army [3, 8] - Entered active service as a draftee on January 26, 1944 at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. Selected for the corps of engineers, completed basic training and qualified in the military occupational specialty of auto mechanic (014). Departed the U.S. on March 9, 1945 bound for the European Theater of Operations. Assigned to and served with Company C, 359th Engineer General Service Regiment in the Central Europe Campaign. Earned the Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 1 bronze battle star, and the WWII Victory Medal. Honorably discharged as a Private First Class on November 10, 1945 at the Separation Center, Camp Grant, Illinois.
This information has been posted on the National World War II Memorial's Registry of Remembrances website by Robert Medley Gatewood. It is entered here with his permission.
Source: https://wwiiregistry.abmc.gov/honoree-plaque/?honoree_id=2060330
Brochure, World War II Memorial, Flora, Illinois, Nov 11, 2007
On Veterans' Day, 2005, the city of Flora, Illinois dedicated a memorial to all known Clay County, Illinois World War II Veterans.
Located on the south side of the city library, this is a copy of the brochure honoring that event.
This 2007 brochure adds a matrix for locating the memorial brick that was laid in honor of each veteran. …
Military Service Ribbons, Blessing, Harry Clifford (1907-1990)
Contributed by Carl Wayne Gray
World War II Honoree, Blessing, Harry C. (1907-1990) 
American Campaign Medal, United States 
American Campaign Medal, United States Military Camp Grant, Illinois 
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, United States European Theater of World War II 
Good Conduct Medal, United States Army European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, United States 
Private First Class, United States Army and United States Army Air Fores
(Sep 1942-Aug 1948)
Fort Sheridan, Illinois 
World War II Victory Medal, United States Military Good Conduct Medal, United States Armed Forces 
United States of America Flag, 48 Stars (1912-1959)
In 1912, two stars were added to the United States flag, representing Arizona and New Mexico, bringing the total number of stars to 48. They were arranged in six rows of eight stars each. American fighting men would fight under this flag during four wars: World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the beginning of the Vietnam War. (In 1959,…United States Army United States Army Enlisted Rank Insignia World War II
(1939-1945)World War II Victory Medal, United States Military 
United States of America Flag, 48 Stars (1912-1959)
In 1912, two stars were added to the United States flag, representing Arizona and New Mexico, bringing the total number of stars to 48. They were arranged in six rows of eight stars each. American fighting men would fight under this flag during four wars: World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the beginning of the Vietnam War. (In 1959, a…Death 28 Sep 1990 Lawrence County Memorial Hospital, Lawrenceville, Lawrence County, Illinois [1, 2] Burial Haven Hill Cemetery, Olney, Richland County, Illinois [2] 
Headstone, Blessing, Helen L. and Harry C. Person ID I18388 Carl Wayne Gray Research Last Modified 6 Jun 2023
Father Blessing, Frank M., b. 1 Apr 1882, Illinois d. 2 Jan 1970 (Age 87 years) Mother Brissenden, Edna I., b. 22 Mar 1886, Nebraska d. 19 Dec 1972 (Age 86 years) Marriage Y [6, 7, 9] Family ID F8237 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family Fox, Helen Louise, b. 15 Oct 1911, Emison, Knox County, Indiana d. 19 Feb 1981, Richland County Memorial Hospital, Olney, Richland County, Illinois (Age 69 years) Marriage 12 Sep 1937 Vincennes, Knox County, Indiana [1, 2, 4, 10] Children 1. Blessing, D.C. + 2. Blessing, B.J. Family ID F7967 Group Sheet | Family Chart
- Entered active service as a draftee on January 26, 1944 at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. Selected for the corps of engineers, completed basic training and qualified in the military occupational specialty of auto mechanic (014). Departed the U.S. on March 9, 1945 bound for the European Theater of Operations. Assigned to and served with Company C, 359th Engineer General Service Regiment in the Central Europe Campaign. Earned the Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 1 bronze battle star, and the WWII Victory Medal. Honorably discharged as a Private First Class on November 10, 1945 at the Separation Center, Camp Grant, Illinois.
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Event Map 
Birth - 30 May 1907 - Clay City, Clay County, Illinois 
Marriage - 12 Sep 1937 - Vincennes, Knox County, Indiana 
Death - 28 Sep 1990 - Lawrence County Memorial Hospital, Lawrenceville, Lawrence County, Illinois 
Burial - - Haven Hill Cemetery, Olney, Richland County, Illinois = Link to Google Earth
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Documents At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
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Notes - The 1930 census lists him as Clifford H. Blessing. His obituary and headstone show him as Harry C. Blessing.
Harry C. Blessing, 83, Clay City, Ill. died Friday, September 28, at Lawrence County Hospital, Lawrenceville.
Mr. Blessing was born May 30, 1907 in Clay City, Ill., the son of Frank and Edna (Brissenden) Blessing.
He married Helen Fox in 1937 and she is deceased.
He was a retired drivers license exam officer, a member of the Clay City Methodist Church, a WW II veteran, a member of the Flora Elks, Flora VFW, Clay City American Legion, Clay City Odd Fellows, Clay City Masonic Lodge, Ainad Temple, East St. Louis, past member Clay City Banking Board, former Illinois State Trooper, former co-owner of Hunley & Blessing ready Mix, Olney-Flora.
Survivors include one son, David B. Blessing, Stafford, Va.; one daughter, Mrs. Frank (Billie) Wilder, Champaign; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, parents and one brother.
Published in Olney Daily Mail (IL)
- The 1930 census lists him as Clifford H. Blessing. His obituary and headstone show him as Harry C. Blessing.
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Sources - [S4726] https://www.findagrave.com, Obituary, Blessing, Harry Clifton, 83, (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/50078260/harry-clifford-blessing), none. (Reliability: 2).
- [S4727] https://www.findagrave.com, Headstone, Blessing, Helen L. and Harry C., (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/50078260/harry-clifford-blessing) (Reliability: 2).
- [S4728] https://www.findagrave.com, Headstone, Blessing, Harry C., (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/50078260/harry-clifford-blessing) (Reliability: 2).
- [S3999] Ancestry.com, 1940 United States Federal Census, Clay City, Clay County, Illinois, (District 13-3) (Village), image 24, page 12a, (https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/2442/M-T0627-00769-00053?backurl=https%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fsearch%2fdb.as) (Reliability: 3).
- [S4719] Ancestry.com, 1930 United States Federal Census, Clay City, Illinois, (District 0003) (Village), image 01, page 1a, (https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/6224/4584337_00604?backurl=https%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fsearch%2fdb.aspx%3fd), none.
- [S1508] Ancestry.com, 1920 United States Federal Census, Clay City, Clay County, Illinois, Enumeration District 3, Page 10B, (http://search.ancestry.com/content/viewer.aspx?dbid=6061&iid=4300174_00627&sid=&gskw=) (Reliability: 2).
- [S4719] Ancestry.com, 1930 United States Federal Census, Clay City, Illinois, (District 0003) (Village), image 01, page 1a, (https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/6224/4584337_00604?backurl=https%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fsearch%2fdb.aspx%3fd), none. (Reliability: 2).
- [S4620] World War II Honoree, Harry C. Blessing, (https://wwiiregistry.abmc.gov/honoree-plaque/?honoree_id=2060330), none. (Reliability: 2).
- [S3304] Ancestry.com, 1940 United States Federal Census, Clay City, Clay County, Illinois, (District 13-3) (Village), image 13, page 6b, (https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/2442/M-T0627-00769-00053?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fsearch%2fdb.asp) (Reliability: 3).
- [S6224] http://www.findagrave.com, Obituary, Blessing, Helen Louise, 69, (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/50078261/helen-louise-blessing), none. (Reliability: 2).
- [S4726] https://www.findagrave.com, Obituary, Blessing, Harry Clifton, 83, (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/50078260/harry-clifford-blessing), none. (Reliability: 2).