Sylvan van Aalten was born in 1913, probably in Belgium. His family moved to the United States where they lived in Queens, New York. Sylvan was a jeweler or a watchmaker before he was drafted into the army on 29 January 1944.

He was with the 28th Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division. In November 1944, the 8th Infantry Division was involved in the heavy fighting for the Hurtgen Forest. This heavily wooded area was instrumental for the advance to the Roer River. To the South where the Roer dams, which needed to be secured in order to start the campaign for the Rhineland, further up North. If the Germans would open or blow the dams, a large area where the operations for the Rhineland would take place, would be flooded.

28th Infantry Regt

8th Infantry Division

The town of Hurtgen fell on November 18, after ferocious fighting and heavy casualties on both sides. The next objective was the towns of Kleinhau and Brandenburg. The 28th Infantry Regiment task on 29 and 30 November was to take up defensive positions and sent out patrols to the southeast towards Brandenburg.

Enemy resistance was encountered and the troops were told to hold positions until plans for a large scale attack were completed.

Pfc van Aalten was very likely killed during one of these patrols.

Private First Class van Aalten is buried at Margraten American Military Cemetery, Plot K Row 20 Grave 18

Margraten, The Netherlands

 

Sources:
Combat History of the Eight Infantry Division, Lt. Marc F. Griesbach
American Battlefield Monument Commission

Directions to Margraten American Military Cemetery

If you have any suggestions, comments or additional information, please contact me.

This website is dedicated to the men and women who died and/or are buried in The Netherlands during World War II.

 

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