PFC Joseph Tiaskkum

courtesy of Tony D.

PFC Joseph Tiaskkum was born in Seneca Falls, New York on 24 Mar 1920. He was the 3rd of the 7 children of John and Anna (Romanik) Tiaskkun. The rest of the family spelled the name "Tiaskkun" and the difference may be the result of an Army clerk's error that was never resolved. John was from Poland and had immigrated at age 18 finding work as a moulder and marrying in 1915. Anna died in 1931 leaving John to raise his children himself. Joseph would go to work in a bakery before working for Seneca Falls Machine Company.

Joseph was drafted in December 1942. After training at Camp Croft, South Carolina he was sent to England where he was assigned to I Company 116th Infantry. He trained with the unit for the planned amphibious assault that was to be a part of the effort to liberate Nazi occupied France. PVT Tiaskkum participated in the landings on 6 Jun 1944. He was promoted to PFC on 24 Jun 1944. Wounded by artillery fire on 15 Jul 1944 near Saint-Lo, France, PFC Tiaskkum was evacuated to a field hospital and treated but died of his wounds on 16 Jul 1944.

PFC Tiaskkum was repatriated in 1949 aboard the USAT Carroll Victory and brought to Seneca Falls on the New York Central Railroad. His body was then escorted to the Tiaskkun home at 13 Mynderse Street by men from the Kirk-Casey Post of the American Legion and LT Cyrus Garnsey Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. PFC Tiaskkum was re-interred in Saint Columbkille Cemetery in Seneca Falls, New York.

Brother, Nicholas D. Tiaskkun, served in the U.S. Army 1944-1946. Brother, George Arthur Tiaskkun, served in the U.S. Army 1942-1944.