T/5 Homer C. McElyea

How this story crossed my path

During the ongoing search for information, photos, and stories about 'Antwerp X', Sylva Van Den Bosch presented the opportunity to look through her family photo albums. In these were numerous photos referring to the stay of American soldiers in or near her home at Schoolstraat, Berlaar, Belgium. Soldiers from the anti-aircraft artillery who protected the port of Antwerp from V-bombs during 'Operation Antwerp X'.

For their contribution to our freedom, I would like to take this opportunity to tell their story and give them the recognition they deserve. Family friend to the Van Den Bosch family was T/5 Homer C. McElyea of the 788th AAA AW Battalion. He gave the family a photo of himself with the following message written on the back: 'Homer - Alabama U.S.A.' The photo disappeared for years in Sylva's family photo album.

Biography and Wartime Service

Homer Carson McElyea was born on October 22, 1920, in Knoxville, Tennessee as the third son of Marguerite Mae Sensabaugh (1902-1967) and Robert Edward McElyea (1896-1987). He had two older brothers, Charles E. (1917 – December 17, 1944) and Raymond S. (1919 – January 24, 1945), both were Killed In Action in World War Two, and one younger brother James L. (1926-1998). Homer was born and raised in Knoxville and graduate of Knoxville High School. He married with Miss Wanda Christine Filden on February 8, 1942 and they had one daughter.

Homer C. McElyea enlisted (#34737899) in the Army on June 25, 1943. He completed basic training at Camp Hullen, Texas, and was assigned to Hq & Hq Battery, 788th AAA AW Battalion, continuing his anti-aircraft training at Camp Davis, North Carolina. He departed for England in August 1944. He served in the European Theatre of Operations with Hq & Hq Battery, 788th AAA AW Gun Battalion where he served as assistant to a chaplain for two and a half years. As a member of this unit, Homer McAleya took part in Operation Antwerp X. His unit departed Cherbourg, France on October 31, 1944 for vicinity of Antwerp, Belgium. Hq & Hq Battery departed from their bivouac in Nantes at 5:30 a.m. on November 1 and covered a distance of 200 miles; they arrived in Berlaar, Belgium, at 2:30 a.m. on November 2, 1944. In Berlaar, they established their command post in the school buildings on Schoolstraat. These were located next to the Van Den Bosch family’s home. Departed Berlaar on December 18, 1944 by motor convoy and arrived at Oelegem, Belgium, same day. However, the next day they left again in order to be deployed near Verviers from December 20, 1944, as part of the Ardennes Offensive.

His wife of 63 years, Wanda Christine, passed away on June 4, 2005, in Tucker, Georgia, at the age of 82. Homer Carson McElyea died on February 3, 2006, in Decatur, Georgia, when he was 85 years old.

Gallery

click on the images to enlarge

Thanks to Sylva Van Den Bosch for sharing these photos from her family album