CPL Andrew Joseph Tokach was born 29 Mar 1914 in Coplay, Pennsylvania. He was the first born of the 8 children born to Frank Joseph and Anna (Banyas) Tokach. Members of the family have also spelled the name "Tokash" and other spelling variations have been used. Frank and Anna were both natives of Slovakia. The family lived in Whitehall, Pennsylvania where Frank worked in a steel mill, then, in 1921, moved to 520 Hemlock Street in Freeland, Pennsylvania where Frank worked as a coal miner. Andrew attended the local schools but never had more than a grammar school education . He was a member of Saint John's Roman Catholic Church there. Andrew was working as a welder for Piper Aircraft Corporation and boarding at 215 East Church Street in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania when he registered for the draft in 1940.
Andrew was drafted in February 1942. He trained at camps in Texas, Georgia and Florida before going to Europe, perhaps with the 116th Infantry in September 1942. Assigned to D Company 116th Infantry, he trained in amphibious operations in preparation for the assault on French beaches that was a planned part of the invasion of Nazi occupied France. He must have been a competent soldier because he had been promoted to CPL before June 1944. CPL Tokach was killed in action on D-Day, 6 Jun 1944.
Andrew rests forever in the Normandy American Cemetery.
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