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SSG Justin Davis
to remember
Avona, Tom G, Pfc.
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Contact Info
Home Town Albert
Date of Passing Aug 30, 1993
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PFC TOM G. AVONA WAS BORN 15 APRIL 1917 IN ALBERT, TUCKER COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA. HE WAS EMPLOYED AS A MILLING MACHINE OPERATOR PRIOR TO ENTERING THE SERVICE ON 1 MAY 1942. PFC AVONA SERVED IN NORTH AFRICA THE MEDITERRANEAN AND EUROPE WITH BATTERY D, 633RD ANTI-AIRCRAFT BATTALION(AUTOMATIC WEAPONS) WHICH HAD BEEN REDESIGNATED FROM THE 244TH COASTAL ARTILLERY BATTALION. IN EUROPE, WITH FEW AIR TARGETS THE 633RD ACTED IN MORE OF A INFANTRY SUPPORT ROLE ATTACHED TO THE 80TH INFANTRY DIVISION. PFC AVONA ARRIVED BACK IN THE STATES ON 5 OCTOBER 1945 AND WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED ON HE 12TH AT FORT MEADE, MARYLAND. TOM AVONA PASSED AWAY ON 30 AUGUST 1993 IN WEIRTON, WV.
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.