World War II Honoree

John Graber

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Troy, New York

Honored By

Steve Graber

Relationship

Son

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS, 75TH DIVISION, 291ST REGIMENT, I COMPANY. ENTERED SERVICE MARCH 1944. TRAINED AT FORT DIX, NEW JERSEY AND ASSIGNED TO CAMP CROFT, SOUTH CAROLINA FOR INFANTRY TRAINING CAMP. ADVANCED TRAINING IN FORT WORTH, TEXAS. ASSIGNED TO THE 75TH DIVISION TO CAMP BRECKINRIDGE, KENTUCKY AND ASSIGNED TO 291ST REGIMENT, I COMPANY, 3RD PLATOON. FROM CAMP BRECKINRIDGE, TRAVELED TO CAMP SHANKS, NEW YORK. ON OCTOBER 22, 1944 CROSSED THE ATLANTIC ON U.S. ARMY TRANSPORT EDMUND B. ALEXANDER AND LANDED AT SWANSEA, WALES NOVEMBER 2, 1944. BOARDED RAIL TO ANGLE CAMP. DECEMBER 9, 1944 BOARDED RAIL FOR SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND AND EMBARKED ON SS EMPIRE JAVELIN AND CROSSED THE ENGLISH CHANNEL. SHORTLY AFTER LEAVING THIS SHIP, THE SS EMPIRE WAS SUNK BY ENEMY ACTION IN THE CHANNEL. THE FOLLOWING DAY ARRIVED NEAR LE HAVRE, FRANCE. LOADED TRUCKS. DEPARTED FRANCE ON INFAMOUS 'FORTY AND EIGHT' RAIL ON DECEMBER 20, 1944 AND ARRIVED IN HASSELT, BELGIUM WHERE HE WAS ASKED TO BE LIEUTENANT’S BODYGUARD. I COMPANY WAS FIRST COMMITTED ON DECEMBER 23, 1944 IN TOHOGNE, BELGIUM. ON CHRISTMAS DAY, HIS PLATOON WAS ACCIDENTALLY STRAFED BY FRIENDLY P-38 AIRCRAFT NEAR SOMME-LEUZE, BELGIUM. I COMPANY MOVED AND TOOK DEFENSIVE POSITIONS IN MANHAY ON JANUARY 1, 1945 AND RECEIVED HEAVY SHELLING THERE. WHILE ON OUTPOST IN A BOMBED OUT BUILDING IN MANHAY, HE AND ANOTHER SOLDIER STOPPED AND APPREHENDED 5 ENEMY INFILTRATORS DRESSED IN AMERICAN INFANTRY UNIFORMS DRIVING A U.S. JEEP. I COMPANY WITHDREW FROM MANHAY ON JANUARY 5, 1945. MARCHED BY FOOT 23 MILES TO BASSE BODEUX, BELGIUM THEN MARCHED TO PETITE HALLEUX. WHILE HIS PLATOON WAS PLACED ON OUTPOST THEY DEFENDED ENEMY NIGHT ATTACK WITH ONLY ONE WOUNDED. AT DAYBREAK, 15 ENEMY KILLED IN ACTION SURROUNDED THEIR PERIMETER. ON JANUARY 15, 1945 1ST AND 2ND BATTALIONS OF 291ST REGIMENT ATTACKED OUTSIDE GRAND HALLEUX, BELGIUM ACROSS 400-500 YARDS OF BARE, OPEN FIELD IN A FOOT OF SNOW AND MET STIFF RESISTANCE. THE ENEMY WAS WELL ENTRENCHED IN THE WOODS. ON THE NIGHT THE 3RD BATTALION RECEIVED THE SAME ORDERS FOR THE MORNING OF JANUARY 16. I COMPANY WAS TO LEAD THE ATTACK AND ASSIGNED 3RD PLATOON TO LEAD THE COMPANY. THE 3RD PLATOON CREPT INTO THE FIELD UNDER COVER OF DARKNESS. IN THE MORNING, 3RD PLATOON SUCCESSFULLY LED THE ATTACK THROUGH A HAIL OF ENEMY GUNFIRE BY BREAKING THE HEAVILY DEFENDED ENEMY LINE AND ELIMINATED SEVERAL ENEMY FOXHOLES AND MACHINE GUN POSITIONS. HE WAS WOUNDED IN ACTION LATER IN THE DAY BY SHRAPNEL. HE REJOINED THE 75TH DIVISION IN SPRING OF 1945 TO CONDUCT MILITARY POLICE WORK IN GERMANY WITH THE REST OF 291ST REGIMENT. RECEIVED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, PURPLE HEART, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, BRONZE STAR.