PVT James B. Pawlik was born 12 Feb 1907 in East Saint Louis, Illinois. All we know of his parents is that they were both natives of Poland. We think that James enlisted in the Army and had been serving in the Canal Zone in 1930, returning aboard the USS Chateau Thierry in 1932. On 16 Jul 1934 he sailed aboard USAT Republic for Hawaii. He was not there, he shipped out for San Francisco aboard the USAT Republic on 7 Aug 1934. He served with the 35th Infantry at Fort McDowell, California. James was discharged in 1935 and went to work for a railroad.
James married Lucia Stiso, a native of Chicago, on 30 Jun 1937. He may have left the railroad for a bit. In 1940 he was working as a packer and Lucy was working as a milliner. Although they were working all through 1939, together they made about $1300 and paid $15 a month rent on their flat at 3232 South Wells Street in Chicago. James and Lucy had a daughter born 7 Dec 1942.
We aren't certain when James re-entered the Army but it appears that he was serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company 2nd Battalion 116th Infantry prior to D-Day, 6 Jun 1944. He worked as an ammunition handler and as an anti-tank gun crewman. PVT Pawlik was killed in action on 18 Oct 1944 near Aachen, Germany. He was awarded the Bronze Star.
PVT Pawlik is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial.
James wife, Lucy, never re-married. The couple had 10 grand-children 8 great grand-children.
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