T/5 Melvin W. Boyington

How this story crossed my path

During the ongoing search for information, photos, and stories about 'Antwerp X' over the past few years, I have come across thousands of names of men who served with one of the AAA units. Whether it be reading through one of the Unit History books or going through Morning Reports, each soldier holds a unique story. Kelly Schmidt McCarthy, the daughter of Buck's sister, crossed my path and sent me a copy of the entire photo album of her uncle.

For their contribution to our freedom, I would like to take this opportunity to tell their story and give them the recognition they deserve. One of these men was T/5 Melvin 'Buck' Boyington, member of the 45th AAA Group, musician and artist.

Biography and Wartime Service

Melvin Wayne Boyington was born in Chicago, Illinois on September 10, 1921 to Wayne Boyington & Hazel Burton Boyington. He grew up in Wisconsin and graduated from Lake Geneva High School in 1939.

After WW2 broke out, he was drafted into the army in July 1942. The Morning Report on 25 August 1943 lists T/5 Boyington as being assigned to the 45th AAA Group out of the AAA Training Center in Ft. Sheridan, Illinois. He then received further training at Ft. Bliss, Texas, Camp Forrest, Tennessee & Camp Crowder, South Carolina, before being send to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey to prepare for overseas movement. As a preparation before going overseas Melvin got baptized in June 1944 in his home church in Chicago and on July 7, 1944 he received his promotion to Staff Sergeant.

The 45th boarded the SS Uruguay in the New York Port of Embarkation on August 10, 1944 setting sail for Glasgow. Upon arrival they boarded a train for Leek, Staffordshire & then trucked to Keele Hall, their final destination in the UK. The first assignment for the 45th was Normandy, landing on Utah Beach in September 1944. They set up in the tiny hamlet of Audouville-La-Hubert, commanding nearby AAA units protecting Utah Beach. Starting in October their new mission was to become a part of Operation Antwerp X, the Allied effort to defend the Port of Antwerp against the V-1. The 45th ended up setting up their new headquarters in Putte using the buildings and grounds of a brewery and the girls school. The Enlisted Men had their sleeping quarters a little further down the road in the malt factory. Their stay in Putte lasted from 2 November 1944 until New Years Eve. In the new year they moved to Brasschaat, to counter the new approaches coming from the North of Antwerp.

During Operation Antwerp X, his unit, and those in the 45th AAA Group were rocketed 154 straight days by V-1 buzz bombs and V-2 ballistic missiles. During the final weeks the offensive had petered out and by early April 1945 it was over. The 45th then moved for a time to Weser, Germany and were there on VE-Day. In June 1945 the 45th moved to Maastricht as part of the postwar occupation forces, anxiously awaiting their return to the United States. Buck Boyington would first be transferred to the 701st Tank Destroyer Battalion to spend some time in Wurzburg, Germany. He returned to the US sailing from Southampton aboard the USS Washington in December 1945.

Buck Boyington was a talented artist and made numerous sketches during his time overseas. His sketches drew the attention of the 45th’s officers and he was commissioned to illustrate the unit history. Many of his cartoons are included in the official 45th Group unit history book as a way to present the unit’s members in a humorous way (See the 'Gallery' for some examples). His other love was music and he organized a band while in Europe dubbed the ‘Passion Pit Crew’ and consisted of 'Dominik' Reed (unit unknown), Pete Peterson (45th AAA), Jack Wonnell (45th AAA), 'Smitty (unit unknown) & John 'Duke' Otten (136th AAA). They often played in officers clubs or battery functions nearby.

While he was still overseas in 1945 a cartoon he send his sister caught the eye of an advertising man which led to it being published in the Herald American, a Chicago newspaper. After coming home he was able to further pursue this talent and became the General Manager of Hensley advertising company in Chicago for 45 years.

He remained unmarried and passed away on April 23, 1991 age 69.

Gallery

click on the images to enlarge

Thanks to Kelly Schmidt McCarthy for sharing these photos from her uncle Melvin Boyington's photo album