2LT Rudolph F. Skrek

courtesy of Glenn

2LT Rudolph F. Skrek was born in New York City, New York on 10 Apr 1915 to Joseph and Josephine (Schrech) Skrek. He was the 2nd of 2 sons. Both parents reported their native country as Hungary but his father had come from Eresi which is now in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He had immigrated in 1906 and worked as a cabinet maker. Rudolph's mother died in 1935 and his older brother married in 1937. Rudolph completed 2-years of college, lived alone with his father in Glendale, New York and was working as a business agent for Local 12165 of the United Mine Workers of America. Rudolph reported a 1939 income of $1500. Joseph died in August 1941.

Rudolph was drafted in January 1942. Likely identified as "officer material" due to his education and previous managerial experience he was sent to officer training. After completion he was sent to England and on 1 Jun 1944 was assigned to L Company 116th Infantry as one of the "extra" platoon leaders assigned to the units just prior to the amphibious landing in the invasion of occupied France. 2LT Skrek was killed in action on 6 Jun 1944, D-Day.

2LT Skrek was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in the Long Island National Cemetery in East Farmingdale, New York.

His older brother, Charles Frank Skrek, served as a SGT in the medical section of the 1258th Service Command Unit.