Clifford P. Van Doren, CSM, U.S. Army (retired) stands with members of his local VFW post around the flagpole he donated to the Legend Oaks Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Kyle in memory of his late wife, Mabel. Kyle/Buda VFW post 12058 members installed the flagpole and honored the Van Dorens with a plaque. (Courtesy photo)
SUBMITTED REPORT
A Kyle veteran has donated a flagpole to the Kyle/Buda VFW Post 12508 in honor of his late wife.
Clifford P. Van Doren began his U.S. Army career at Camp Grant, Illinois in 1943. His unit was assigned to the Combat Engineering Battalion and on the morning of June 6, 1944 off the coast of France (D-Day), Tech 5 Clifford P. Van Doren, a long shoreman, went back and forth between the ships and beach multiple times. Van Doren was also at the Battle of the Bulge, enduring some of the harshest conditions of any war in recorded history.
Tech 5 Clifford P. Van Doren was discharged from the U.S. Army in 1946 and worked for the State of Illinois Department of Agriculture as a Soil Conservationist for the next 31 years. After 10 years of civilian life Van Doren joined the Army Reserves in 1956, and retired 21 years later as a Command Sergeant Major.
Once a resident of Legend Oaks Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Kyle, Van Doren donated a flag pole dedicated to the memory of his late wife Mabel Van Doren. His VFW post honored the Van Dorens with a plaque and the installation of the flagpole.
