Envelope, B Battery, 494th AAA Gn Bn

Pfc Joseph H. Gaunay

Private First Class
Joseph H. Gaunay

Pfc Joseph H. Gaunay Jr.

B Battery - 494th AAA Gun Battalion

Joseph Henry Gaunay was born on April 14, 1905 in Troy, New York to Genevieve 'Jennie' Gates and Joseph Henry Gaunay. He lived his entire life in Troy. He had six brothers and one sister. Jennie and Joseph Sr. were the parents of five sons in the service. Two were in the Army, two in the Navy and one son was with the Marines.

Joseph H. Gaunay Jr. enlisted on April 30, 1936 at the National Guard, in Troy, NY with A Company, 105th Infantry. He was honorably discharged on April 30, 1939. He re-enlisted (#32042191) on January 14, 1942 in Albany, New York. He completed basic training at Camp Van Dorn, Mississippi, and was assigned to the 519th AAA in February 1944, continuing his anti-aircraft training at Fort Niagara and Buffalo, New York.

On May 10, 1944, during the defense of the air base in Folgingham, England, he was transferred from C Battery to D Battery, 519th AAA Gun Battalion. On August 4, 1944, his status changed from MOS 504, Ammunition Bearer, to MOS 531, Antitank Gun Crewman. He was then transferred to the 494th AAA.

Joseph Gaunay served in the European Theatre of Operations with B Battery, 494th Anti-aircraft Artillery Gun Battalion. On November 2, 1944 he and the 494th AAA Gn Bn arrived in Putte, as part of operation 'Antwerp X'. Joseph's battery, B Battery was set up from November 2 until November 15, 1944 in a field near Reetlei in Putte. Since then the site has been completely build up. He was honorably discharged on October 29, 1945.

After the war, Joseph Gaunay married Helen Margaret Hilke (1888-1955) in 1949. He died on March 13, 1980 in Detroit, Michigan.