He was the 10th of 11 children, he had 3 sisters and 7 brothers. His father Fin Adams and mother Kansas Hardin were farmers in the village of Brodhead in Rockcastle County. In 1940 after working on the family farm he was employed as a painter for a building company. He enrolled in the US Army on 19 February 1942. His unit debarked in North Africa on 13 April 1943. He first saw combat on 9 September when he landed in Paestum in the Gulf of Salerno. He would see combat in the mountains of Italy, the village of San Pietro and the bloody crossing of the Rapido River. On 12 March 1944 they were withdrawn to refit and then landed in Anzio on 25 May 1944. After capturing the town of Velletri on 1 June 44 his unit would enter Rome on 5 June 44. His unit would next land in Southern France on 15 August and fight their way up the Rhone Valley. On 20 September they would liberate Raon-aux -Bois. After crossing the Moselle River he was killed by shell fragments on the outskirts of Herpelmont. He was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster. His brother Arnold also died during the war.

U.S., World War II Hospital Admission Card Files, 1942-1954
NAME: Clifford Adams
RACE: White, includes Mexican (White)
RANK: Enlisted Man
ADMISSION AGE: 24
BIRTH DATE: 1920
ADMISSION DATE: Oct 1944
DISCHARGE DATE: Oct 1944
MILITARY BRANCH: Infantry, General or Unspecified
DIAGNOSIS: CausativeAgent: Artillery Shell, Fragments, Afoot or unspecified
TYPE OF INJURY: Casualty, battle
INJURED IN LINE OF DUTY: In line of duty
TYPE OF DISCHARGE: Died
SERVICE NUMBER: 35267654

U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946
Name: Clifford Adams
Race: White
Marital status: Single, without dependents (Single)
Rank: Private
Birth Year: 1920
Nativity State or Country: Kentucky
Citizenship: Citizen
Residence: Rockcastle, Kentucky
Education: Grammar school
Civil Occupation: Semiskilled painters, construction and maintenance
Enlistment Date: 19 Feb 1942
Enlistment Place: Fort Thomas Newport, Kentucky
Service Number: 35267654
Branch: Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA
Component: Selectees (Enlisted Men)
Source: Civil Life
Height: 70
Weight: 140

Brother also lost in war

Adams, Arnold ~ PFC