Garrison, John

Date of birth:: August 12th, 1922 (Woodbine/New Jersey, United States)
Date of death:: April 23rd, 1945 (Pevestorf/Lowersaxony, Germany)
Buried on:: Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial
Service number:: 12 010 655
Nationality:: American

Biography

John Garrison was born in 1922 and lived in Woodbine, New Jersey.

He enlisted on 24th February 1941 at Camden, New Jersey and was placed in 335th Infantry Regiment, 84th Infantry Division. After this followed training and several changes of location. As far as known now:
February 24th, 1941 - ?: Camden,New Jersey;
June 1942 - April 1943: San Juan, Puerto Rico, Camp Las Casas;
July 1943 - ?: New Orleans;
August 24th, 1943 - September 4th, 1943: Camp Croft, South Carolina;
September 4th, 1943 - December 11th, 1943: Fort Benning, Georgia;
December 1943 - May 10th, 1944: Camp Hulen,Texas;
May 1944 - August 21st, 1944: Camp Chafling ? Arkansas;
August - September 6th,1944: Fort George G . Meade, Maryland, Florida.

On 20th September 1944 the Division lefst for Europe and first trained in England. The first units arrived on the mainland on 9th November 1944 to see action in the Rhineland, the Ardennes and Central Europe.

John Garrison was reported missing in action on 23rd April 1945 and declared dead on 24th April 1946. He was amongst one of the seven men of Company I, 335th Infantry Regiment, 84th Infantry Division reported missing in action after the battle at Pevestorf on the Elbe river, 23rd April 1945. this was the last battle of the war in which men of the 84th Infantry Division were involved.
Later research evolved that in the early morning of that 23rd April 1945, a batallion of German military launched a strong counterattack at Pevestorf, which was then occupied by Company I, 335th Infantry Regiment.
During the battle, several buildings were set afire, resulting in exploding ammunition. The heavy explosions caused tremendous fires after which casualties could not be identified. It is well possible that the seven missing men were among these casualties.

His name is placed on the "Wall of Missing" at the American Cemetery in Margraten, the Netherlands.