 |
| Pvt. Troy Evans served with the 32nd Infantry Division in Luzon. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/41162281/troy-dee-evans The Times (Shreveport Louisiana) 8 May 1945 http://www.32nd-division.org/history/ww2/32ww2-11.html |
Troy Dee Evans never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on May 25, 1919 in Louisiana. His parents Robert and Mamie were also both born in Louisiana. His father worked as a farmer. Troy had three older brothers, an older sister, a twin brother, and two younger sisters. By 1940 Troy had completed a fifth grade level of education and was working as a mechanic whiling living at home. At some point after that he married Anna Mae Price. They had one daughter.
He was drafted into the army at the relatively late date of August 16, 1944. He became a private in Company G, 2nd Battalion, 126th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division (nicknamed "Red Arrow"). The 32nd ID was one of the first army units sent to the Pacific Theater. It arrived in Australia in May 1942. It first fought in difficult jungle conditions in New Guinea, where losses to tropical diseases exceeded combat losses. It was next part of the return to the Philippines when it landed in Leyte. It began engaging the enemy in combat on Leyte in November 1944 and Luzon in January 1945.
Pvt. Evans likely joined his unit after this time as a replacement sometime in the spring of 1945. By June the 32nd ID was engaged in what was considered mopping up operations. Pvt. Evans was killed in action on June 15, 1945 near Kirang, Nueva Viscaya, Luzon when he was instantly killed when a shell fragment struck his head.
His grave is at Masonic Cemetery in Rayville, Louisiana. His widow remarried and died in 2013. I don't know what happened to his daughter.
Last year on this date I profiled Lester May, 26th Engineer Combat Regiment. You can read about Lester here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
No comments:
Post a Comment