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name
GAINEY, John Vance - Date of
birth
27 October 1916 -
Age
28 - Place of
birth
Cumberland County, North Carolina -
Hometown
Sampson County, North Carolina
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
34008132 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
unknown -
Unit
K Company,
3rd Battalion,
120th Infantry Regiment,
30th Infantry Division
-
Awards
Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster,
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
25 December 1944 - Place of
death
Malmedy, Belgium
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes - Tablets of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Gilerd Gainey (father)
Emma Gainey (mother)
Dossie Gainey (sister)
Garland Gainey (brother)
Matilda Gainey (sister)
Eunice Gainey (brother)
David Gainey (brother)
More information
S/Sgt John Gainey attended high school for four years and was a chauffeur.He enlisted at Fort Bragg, North Carolina on 10 January 1941.
On 23, 24 and 25 December 1944 the city center of Malmédy was bombed repeatedly by the United States Army Air Forces in a series of friendly fire incidents. Approximately 200 civilians were killed in the tragic attacks, while the number of American casualties has never been revealed by the United States Department of Defense. It is estimated that 69 American servicemen lost their lives of which a great number is still listed as missing in action.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, WWIIMemorial.com, Ancestry.com - Army Enlistment Record / 1930 Census,
www.oldhickory30th.com, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Fort Jackson, South Carolina, 1941