hello

my name is ryan crum.
im looking for information about the unit ( 431st. AAA AW Bn Battery D ) my grandfather served with in ww2. i know he served in N. Africa, Sicily, Sardinia, France & Germany.
his name is John P. Crum and his service number is 37221622
im basically starting from scratch. the records office in st.louis said his info was lost in a fire.
i would like to learn first hand accounts about what happened to him, while he was in europe. im very interested in finding vets he served with.

thank you for any help you provide

Ryan -

I can give you this quick summary: dates, places, and campaigns:

1 Mar 42 - Activated at Camp Stewart GA
5 Aug 42 - New York Port of Embarkation
17 Aug 42 - England
8 Nov 42 - North Africa (the initial assault)
10 Aug 43 - Sicily
4 Dec 43 - Sardinia
8 Nov 44 - France
45 (dates uncertain - Germany
16 Oct 45 - Boston Pork of Embarkation
17 Oct 45 - Deactivated at Camp Miles Standish MA

The Battalion is credited for service in the following Campaigns:
Algeria - French Morocco
Tunisia
Sicily
Rhineland
Ardennes - Alsace
Central Europe
Their mission in Sardinia was almost certainly that of protecting Allied Air Bases there.

For a fairly good reference on each of the campaigns, go to
http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/collections/eame-cmps.htm
While you may not find explicit references to your grandfather's battalion, you'll get a good understanding of the situation and action.

- Pat

thank you so much for your help.

i've exhausted all avenues on the internet that im aware of to locate info about this unit.
im have an appt. next tuesday at abiline,ks to search the eisenhower library for this units after action reports, so thats my next move.

are you or anyone else aware of any ways to locate living soldiers in this unit. ive only been able to locate deceased vets.
my main objective is to locate old battle buddies to get first hand accounts of the battles, but i know time is not on my side.

thank you for any help you can give me.

My grandfather was in the 431st. AAA AW, before he died my father interviewed him about where he want and what he did. We also have a book that was written by somebody about where and what they did during world war 2. They were at the Kaiser Hotel near Salzburg Austria when the war ended, then went to france for a while before returning home. I have a lot more information about what they did, though I am not sure what battery my grandfather was in. Email me if you need more information.

Clarke, thanks for responding to this old thread. We appreciate it.

Would you be willing to post anything about your grandfather's experience, pictures, etc?

__________________
Best Regards,
JW