my name is gary. Im in north Carolina. I joined as I found a diary from ww2 a 535aaa member this year in a trailer. I posted a few excepts under someones else post. I am trying to located any member of the 535 aaa that are still alive in the north Carolina Virginia south Carolina area
thanks

hello
im new but Ive got a true story. earlier this year we were knocking down a trailer on my property. It was full of crap. We got down to the final boxes. I took a break and went inside. my buddy comes running in holding a book saying look what I found. It was a ww2 dairy. The i leather and looked old. I opened it and inside was pictures hand drawn maps and a day to day account of what happened. The guys name was CPL John Rafalik from Michigan. here are a few lines
6 june 1944 trip across channel rather quiet broken only by two submarine alerts. depth charges were dropped and we proceeded on towards the coast. at 0800prepared to disembark. final inspection of packs, equipment. ship struck a mine at 0750

stern has been badly hit and she is afire amid-ship. 0840 left ship for British destroyer escort. transport is already awash and burning fiercely. many are still left on board.Susan B Anthony rolls over and goes down at 0932 hours left destroyer for landing craft hit the beach sugar red at 1235 minus equipment and rifles. Picket up and used German equipment


dug foxholes 200 yards from beach. enemy artillery fire was very light. ME 109's were over strafing the area a number were shot down. P47 dive bombed German positions1000 yards to our right violent explosions resulted. Enemy was over at intervals during the night. snipers were active and paratroopers were reported in the area


Heavy and small arms fire went on all night. 88's sank a number of ships in the anchor area. Mine fields were very heavy and were many casualties. the navy pounded away at german positions steadily throughout the twenty four hour period


7 june 1944 enemy artillery continued to shell the beach area particularly fifth landing, sugar red. small arms and mg fire were intense. four me 109's strafed at 1600 hours all four down naval guns pounded enemy held beach areas day and night. German bombers were over during the night

18 dec 1944 regrouped much material lost srt up in new positions with 370th FA A battery at camp Elsenborn.Enemy artillery fire was very heavy all day

19 dec 1944 enemy drive continues artillery fire was particulary heavy all day 16 fw 190's over at 1700 4 downed

20 dec heavy artillery action all day many hostiles were over


21 dec 1944 inclement weather no air action artillery fire continues
22 dec 1944 bad weather again enemy artillery fire continues
23 dec 1944 enemy aircraft were over heavy artillery fire continues some bombs fell in the area


25 dec 1944 large scale air activity by both sides two me 109 were destroyed at 1100 today me 262 and fw190 were over night activity by the Germans was reported bed check Charley was over at intervals heavy counter battery fire


anyone know if any vets are still alive that were i this unit and where they are located?

Wow. That's amazing. I hope you can find family at least. Welcome aboard.

welcome....

My wife's uncle, Lt Robert J McCray was in Battery A of the 535th. He was KIA on 21 Dec 1944. He was awarded the Bronze Star posthumously for his actions on 17 Dec 1944. Any information regarding him or experiences with him would be very appreciated. We are planning to visit his grave at Henri-Chapelle during our visit in October.

you're welcome

Originally Posted by racingflea

18 dec 1944 regrouped much material lost srt up in new positions with 370th FA A battery at camp Elsenborn.Enemy artillery fire was very heavy all day

19 dec 1944 enemy drive continues artillery fire was particulary heavy all day 16 fw 190's over at 1700 4 downed

20 dec heavy artillery action all day many hostiles were over


21 dec 1944 inclement weather no air action artillery fire continues
22 dec 1944 bad weather again enemy artillery fire continues
23 dec 1944 enemy aircraft were over heavy artillery fire continues some bombs fell in the area


25 dec 1944 large scale air activity by both sides two me 109 were destroyed at 1100 today me 262 and fw190 were over night activity by the Germans was reported bed check Charley was over at intervals heavy counter battery fire


anyone know if any vets are still alive that were i this unit and where they are located?

Originally Posted by VTCC75

My wife's uncle, Lt Robert J McCray was in Battery A of the 535th. He was KIA on 21 Dec 1944. He was awarded the Bronze Star posthumously for his actions on 17 Dec 1944. Any information regarding him or experiences with him would be very appreciated. We are planning to visit his grave at Henri-Chapelle during our visit in October.

Gary, I forgot to tell you....we live in Charlotte, NC!