T/5 Rocco Aversa

How this story crossed my path

During the ongoing search for information, photos, and stories about 'Antwerp X', Dieter Dijck and the Dr. Cornil's family presented the opportunity to look through the Cornil family photo albums. In these were numerous photos referring to the stay of American soldiers in or near Putte. Soldiers from the anti-aircraft artillery who protected the port of Antwerp from V-bombs during 'Operation Antwerp X'.

For their contribution to our freedom, I would like to take this opportunity to tell their story and give them the recognition they deserve. Family friend to the Vercammen-Ceulemans family was T/5 Rocco Aversa of the 789th AAA Gun Battalion. The fact he was Catholic helped in this regard.

Biography and Wartime Service

Rocco Aversa was born in Manhattan, New York, on January 1, 1925 to Angiolina Iannone and Alfonso Rocco Aversa, both had immigrated from Italy.

On May 5, 1943, he entered active service. The Morning Reports from September 1943 list him as assigned to Camp Stewart, Georgia, where the 789th AAA was being formed. He then became part of the Medical Detachment of the 789th. On February 1944 they were stationed at Richmond Army Air Base, Virginia.

With the Medical Detachment of the 789th AAA he went overseas and during the secret operation 'Antwerp X', Rocco Aversa found himself stationed in the Belgian city Lier. As part of Medical Detachment he was stationed at the 789th Hq, established at the Vercammen-Ceulemans family's horse farm in the Anderstad suburb. It was there that he got acquainted with the Cornil family, as one of the three Vercammen daughters, Maria (Mia), had married Dr. Jules Cornil, surgeon and general practitioner in nearby Putte.

Mia was a recent widow and lived with her four children in Putte. Her husband, Dr. Cornil, had been assassinated by a hit squad of collaborators working for the German 'Sicherheitspolizei' for his ties to the local resistance group. Rocco Aversa, a catholic just like the family, became a welcome guest and friend of the Vercammen, Ceulemans & Cornil families often spending time with the kids.

After the War, Rocco Aversa graduated from Columbia University School of Pharmacy with a Bachelor's in Pharmacology. He married Christine Trezza on August 19, 1950 in New York City, NY. They had four children during their marriage.

Rocco A. Aversa passed away on May 1, 2006 at his residence in Pleasantville, New York, at the age of 81.

Gallery

click on the images to enlarge

Thanks to the Cornil family for sharing these photos from their family albums
Parts of this story were excerpted from the book 'Lier 40-45' by Wim Govaerts, many thanks