CLEVES — Clyde Irl Myers, a World War II Army veteran who was awarded the Bronze Star, died June 1 at Mercy Franciscan-Western Hills Campus. The Cleves resident was 86.

        He was on the front line when the Battle of the Bulge began, a 1st lieutenant with the 9th Armored Division in charge of keeping more than a dozen tanks operating.

        Bearing the brunt of the German onslaught, the 9th held the enemy off even when they were encircled in Bastogne, Belgium. Bastogne was a major crossroads, and Adolf Hitler fought hard for it.

        “Because they held the line against massive odds, they were able to keep Bastogne from being captured,” his son-in-law, Dave Ward of Bozeman, Mont., said.

        “Clyde was always a little upset because the 101st Airborne and Patton's Army got the credit.”

        The 9th provided artillery cover for the infantry when it crossed Remagen Bridge — the only bridge left over the Rhine — into Germany. For 10 days, Mr. Myers fired from a tank on the west side of the river.

        “If they had not held it, it would have been worse than it was,” said Mr. Ward.

        “These guys, I think they weren't proud of themselves,” said Mr. Ward. “I think they figured the heroes were the guys who didn't come back.”

        Mr. Myers was born in North Bend in 1915 and was a member of the Taylor High School class of 1933. He played trumpet with the band and was a standout athlete on the basketball, soccer, baseball and track teams. Last year, the school named him to its Sports Hall of Fame.

        Mr. Myers began selling cars for W.W. Taylor, a Ford dealership in North Bend.

        After the United States entered World War II, he enlisted in the Army, but not before marrying Virginia L. Scott in 1942. She followed him around the country while he was training before he sailed overseas on the Queen Mary.

        In addition to the Bronze Star, Mr. Myers received the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three battle stars.

        “I know he was very proud of his military service and he was a very patriotic person,” said a granddaughter, Abigail Ward of Bozeman.

        Mr. Myers made his living in radio advertising, retiring in 1976.

        A lifelong member of the North Bend United Methodist Church, he sang with its choir and also performed at weddings and American Legion receptions.

        Mr. Myers was a member of the North Bend Lodge #346 F&AM and the American Legion Post in Cleves.

        In addition to his son-in-law and granddaughter, survivors include; Virginia L. Scott Myers, his wife of 60 years; three daughters, Susan Myers Silbermann of Columbus, Ohio, Pamela Myers-Hackmann of Pleasant Ridge and Nancy Myers Ward of Bozeman; and two other grandchildren.

        Services have been held. Interment was at Maple Grove Cemetery in Cleves. Memorials: North Bend United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 98, North Bend 45052.

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