Pfc. Frank Silvy Avia Jr.

32606504

Battery A & C, 136th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Gun Battalion

October 18, 1922 - January 7, 1945

Pfc. Frank Silvy Avia Jr.

32606504

Battery A, 136th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Gun Battalion
Battery A
136th AAA Gun Bn

Biography

Frank Silvino Avia was born on October 18, 1922, in West New York, New Jersey, to Florence Cirulli (1906-1998) and Frank August Avia (1900-1974).

Military Service

Frank S. Avia Jr. enlisted on January 10, 1943 at Newark, New Jersey and entering the service on January 22, 1943, at Fort Dix, New Jersey. He took part of his basic training at Camp Davis, North Carolina as a member of Battery C, 136th AAA Gn. Bn. Initially Frank Avia served overseas with Battery A, 136th AAA Gun Battalion but was later transferred back to Battery C in the capacity as radar operator. For his service in World War Two he was awarded among other decorations with the Good Conduct Medal, and posthumously with the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, Purple Heart Medal, the American Campaign Medal and the Belgian Croix de Guerre with Palm.

Death

On January 7, 1945 a V1 struck the mess tent of Battery, 136th AAA Gun Battalion while several soldiers, among them Frank Avia, were present. Seriously wounded he was rushed to the 30th General Hospital where died the same day as the result of a fractured skull. His remains were then taken to Henri-Chapelle Cemetery where he was buried a few days later on 10 January 1945 and rests to this day.

Frank Avia's IDPF can be found here IDPF

Gallery

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