Honoring Troy’s Veterans
Every Sunday through Veteran’s Day, The Record will publish brief profiles of the brave men and women honored by their family and friends with banners hung around Troy through the work of the Troy Military Banner Committee. To honor a veteran, contact the committee by email at troybanners@gmail.com or through its website at www. troymilitarybanners.com.
John Graber
Born on Christmas Eve, 1925, Graber was one of six children. When hewas 11years old, in the midst of the Great Depression, his father died, so he started taking onwork to help support his family. At age 15, he quit school at Catholic Central High School to work more hours.
At age 18, he joined the U. S. Army on March 15, 1944, completed training and landed in the European Theatre on Nov. 2, 1944with the 75th Infantry Division assigned to the 291st Infantry Regiment, I- Company, 3rd Platoon, 3rd Squad.
When the German army launched its great counter- offensive known as the Battle of the Bulge on Dec. 16, 1944, the 75th Infantry Division moved to the front lines on the northern shoulder of the Bulge to repel the attack. On Jan. 16, 1945, after two battalions failed to dislodge the heavily entrenched enemy in the woods across wide open fields of snow above the small village Grand Halleux, Belgium, the 291st attacked, with Graber’s squad leading the way. Graber personally charged across the field, through gunfire, grenades and artillery explosions, and neutralized a covered firing position, taking most of the fiveman enemy team manning the position as prisoners. He was later wounded by shrapnel, earning him the Purple Heart .
Graber also received the Bronze Star, Combat Infantry Badge,
U. S. Army Sharpshooter Badge, World War 2Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal and the European Africa Middle East Campaign Medal.
Graber, who died Feb. 11, was married to the former Lois Robinson of Troy for 67years, until her death in 2014. Together, they raised seven children and had 20grandchildren. Graber worked at the former General Electric silicone plant in
Waterford for 45years, until his retirement in 1992. He was a devout Catholic, often volunteering for adoration in the early morning hours at St. Augustine’s Church.
Graber’s banner can be found at 55 State St. Robinson joined the New York National Guard in January 1953and served with the 105th Infantry Division and then the 205th Tank Battalion befgore he was discharged in July 1955 to enter the U. S. Military Academy at West Point. He graduated from West Point in 1959and served on active duty for 24years, retiring in 1983. Robinson’s banner can be found at 365 3rd St.