563rd AAA

Hello everyone, I am the grandson of Caswell Woosley who served in the 563rd. I am looking for any other people who have relatives living for past that also served in this unit. I can share lots of pictures and stories from what I remember my grandfather telling and showing me. Pictures to come

 

Here's a blog post by someone who just recently lost her father. He was a veteran of the 563rd. You should be able to contact her through the comments section.

 

Thank you

 

My grandfather, Cpl Walter Hastings served in the 563rd AAA AW BN during WWII. He was from Staten Island, NY and passed away before I was born. His service record was destroyed in the St Louis fire back in the 1970a and the book written by Walt cross only mentioned his name in the index. I am hoping to find anyone that may have known him, what his contribution to the unit was, or even might have a picture of him. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

 

It's not much, but here is a newspaper clip from when he (or someone with the same name and from Staten Island) returned home from the war.

http://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2018/New%20York%20NY%20Sun/New%20York%20NY%20Sun%201946/New%20York%20NY%20Sun%201946%20-%200441.pdf

 

My grandfather, Angelo Tamburlin, was a Sergeant in the 563rd AAA. Unfortunately I don't have any specific stories to share, though as a young kid I did attend a number of reunions with him. It'd be great if there was additional info floating out there to help paint a better picture of his general experience in the war. I know this is a old thread but I figured it was worth a post.

 

Hi. I did come across that book about the same time as my post. I plan to order a copy. Thanks!

 

Hi, my grandfather Harvey Lehman was a corporal in Battery B 563rd Anti-Aircraft Battalion, 2nd platoon. He is interested in having me write back soon with some information and stories regarding his experience during the war.

 

That would be great!

 

This is my grandpa David S Price from San Diego, CA, a devout Mormon and one I have looked up to my whole life.

He lead a platoon in the Battle of the Bulge for the 563rd AAA AW BN, among other campaigns.

The attached picture was by a native artist who painted this portrait as a thank you for Grandpa giving the artist hitchhiker a ride across the country after the war on his halftrack.

Mind you, grandpa never, ever talked about the war. He was in his 80’s before he allowed my sister to transcribe his stories which had been suppressed for 60 years.

Grandpa is still with us, although his short term memory is starting to go. Grandma passed away in 2011, and grandpa remarried a few years later.

Here is a link to some of what my sister was able to glean from him about his war experiences:

Dropbox - David Sherman Price -WW2.doc

 

Operations of 49th AAA (Antiaircraft Artillerymen) Brigade in Europe, June 6, 1944 to May 9, 1945. - David Rumsey Historical Map Collection
Skylighters, The Web Site of the 225th AAA Searchlight Battalion: Operations of the 49th AAA Brigade in Europe

 

My Grandfather JW Frye served in 563d AAA AW Bn battery C. The men in this photo from left to right are: Frye, Carter, Barron, Milne, Andreoni

 

Hi my name is Gary Stevenson. My dad was in the 563rd. He passed in 2010, but I have all of his stories, photos, maps,etc. He wrote a “memoirs book”. I’m willing to share with anyone interested. I was able to take him back in 2004 to several places the 563rd was posted. I have video and photos of the trip. Anyone interested my email is mrgumby59@gmail.com.

 

My father, Richard Nybro, was in the 563rd. Drafted at 18 from Staten Island, NY. Went through basic training at Camp Stewart with Buddy Hackett (then known as Leonard Hacker). He said Hacker kept them in stitches the entire time of basic. He was in the barracks next to my Dad. Hacker was assigned to the 601st AAA.
My Dad told me some stories of his experience but kept quiet for the most part and was never boastful. Specifically what happened to friends, Willy and Sebastian. One fell off a ridge or cliff running a communication wire and the other stepped on land mine after jumping out of the truck to unhitch the gun. He took my Dad's turn. From there Battle of The Bulge (crazy), after which he met a displaced affluent Belgian family who were well educated and musical. He brought them used coffee grounds, blankets, rations, and continued to call and write them for many decades after the war. He also served as a Chaplains assistant. After VE, he was an MP in London for a while as troops were being sent home. He attended Wagner College in Staten Island on the GI Bill, and then Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN. He was an ordained Lutheran pastor in civilian life for a few years and then decided to serve in the Army again as a Chaplain. From there it was Korea, back to Berlin when the wall went up, and then Vietnam (Bronze medal) just months after I was born in 67. I was 18 months old when he came home and didn't know my own father as a baby. He retired in 74 as a Lt Col and continued to preach and council for another 20 years in San Antonio. Since Vietnam he had numerous skin lesions due to Agent Orange exposure (plus hepatitis from the field hospitals) which eventually turned to liver cancer in 1998. He died on July 1, 1999 at 74 yrs old; my sisters and I were by his side. Bravest, most humble, kindest, loving man I've ever known.

 

Hey this is Gary Stevenson My dad was also in the 563rd and lived in Staten Island. You can email me at mrgumby59@Gmail.com to swap stories. I was able to take him back to Belgium in 2004. I have a lot of his stories and videos of our trip.

 

My father, Duward Grady Turnage, served in the 563rd with David S. Price. He and David shared many experiences from Camp Stewart to the Ardennes and Remagen. After the war Daddy and David remained friends for over 70 years until Daddy passed away in 2015. The photo of General Eisenhower that David mentions in his experiences included Lt. Turnage, Lt. Price, Cpl. Bridgewater and Cpl Chakwia, men of the 2nd Platoon in C Battery. It was taken at an airfield in Bracht, Germany.