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SSG Justin Davis
to remember
Close, David A Jr., Sgt.
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Contact Info
Home Town Thomas
Date of Passing Jul 31, 1978
Official Badges
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Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
SERGEANT DAVID A. CLOSE JR. WAS EMPLOYED AS A MACHINIST APPRENTICE NEAR CUMBERLAND MARYLAND BEFORE ENLISTING IN THE U.S. ARMY AIR FORCE ON 15 JANUARY 1942. HE TRAINED BILOXI MISSISSIPPI BEFORE SHIPPING OVERSEAS. WHILE OVERSEAS HE SERVED WITH THE 419TH BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON, 301ST BOMBARDMENT GROUP FROM 6 AUGUST 1942 TO 8 JUNE 1945. ON 16 SEPTEMBER 1945 SGT CLOSE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED. THE SOCIAL SECURITY DEATH INDEX LISTS HIS DATE OF PASSING AS JULY 1978.
WWII - European Theater of Operations/Sicily Campaign (1943)
From Month/Year
July / 1943
To Month/Year
August / 1943
Description (Sicily Campaign 9 July to 17 August 1943) In preparation for the invasion of Sicily the Allies captured the islands in the Sicilian strait, with aerial bombardment forcing the capitulation of Pantelleria on 11 June 1943. By that time Allied air power had begun the attack on Sicily by bombing defenses and airfields. The invasion itself got under way on the night of 9/10 July with airborne landings that were followed the next day by an amphibious assault. The enemy offered strong resistance, but the Allies had superiority in the air and soon had planes operating from Sicilian bases to support Montgomery’s Eighth Army and Patton’s Seventh.
Interdictory operations against communications in Italy and between Italy and Sicily convinced the enemy that it would be impossible to move strong reinforcements. By 17 August 1943 the Allies were in possession of the island, but they had not been able to prevent a German evacuation across the Strait of Messina.
