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Name: Clarence Thomas Joseph Meuse Rank: Private Service No.: 51012346 Service: 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, US Army Awards: Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Presidential Unit Citation, Republic of Korea War Service Medal Date of Birth: July 13, 1929 Place of Birth: L’sitkuk (Bear River), Annapolis County, Nova Scotia Date of Enlistment: November 1, 1951 Place of Enlistment: Ulustuk, Aroostook County, Maine Address at Enlistment: Ulustuk, Aroostook County, Maine Age at Enlistment: 22 Next of Kin: Louis St. Claire Meuse (Brother) 817 Robie Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia Eye color: Brown Hair color: Black Date of Death: November 4, 1952 Age at Death: 23 Cemetery: Woodlawn National Cemetery, Elmira, Chemung County, New York Grave: Plot C, Row O, Grave 3160B Clarence was Mi’kmaq, the son of William Benjamin Meuse (1884-1947) and Mary Rose Jeremy Meuse Labrador (1897-1947). His father was born in L’sitkuk (Bear River, Annapolis Co., Nova Scotia) and his mother was born in Kepe’k (Milton, Queens Co.), NS. Clarence had eight siblings – John Oliver Meuse (1917–1922), James William Meuse (1918–1945), Marguerite Meuse (1920 –), Louis Paul Meuse (1923–2014), Olive Madeline Meuse (1924–1944), Frank Stephen Meuse (1926–2008), Bruce Meuse (1927–1979), and Oliver J Meuse (1927–2009). The family migrated back and forth to the United States for farm work. There is record of Clarence crossing from Canada to the US on April 9, 1951, at Holton, Maine. He listed his brother Frank in Bear River at that time. He indicated from October 12, 1949, to April 9, 1951, he had been in the US at various addresses working but that his intention was to reside permanently in the US. He indicated he was going to Dyer Brook, Aroostook County, Maine, and his contact locally was Jack Show (mailing address listed as the neighboring Island Falls, Maine). Clarence enlisted in the US Army in Ulustuk (Aroostook County), Maine seven months later on November 1, 1951. Private Clarence Thomas Meuse was killed in action during the Korean War, near Kumhwa. The Battle of Triangle Hill (also known as Operation Showdown) took place from October 14 to November 25, 1952, and he was killed on the November 4th. The battle was part of the United Nations attempt to take control of the area known as the Iron Triangle. Clarence’s body was returned to the United States and he was interred July 15, 1953, at the Woodlawn National Cemetery in Elmira in Chemung County, New York. A second soldier with ties to Nova Scotia, Private First Class Clarence Edmond Deon, died serving with the 31st Infantry Regiment during the Korean War 21 days before Private Meuse on October 14, 1952.

Remembering the Korean War Korean War Casualties with a Nova Scotia Connection

Sources: Korean War Project findagrave

31st Infantry Regiment insignia and its motto, Pro Patria

Image: SC409991 - Medical Corpsmen of the 1st Battalion Aid Station, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th US Infantry Division, assist in helping wounded infantrymen of Companies D and L, 31st Regiment, following the fight for Hill 598. October 14, 1952. Kumhwa, Korea. Signal Corps Photo #1-4885-4/FEC-52-30954 (Sylvester)