PFC Ignatz Anton Kobza

courtesy of Des Philippett

PFC Ignatz Anton Kobza was born 29 Apr 1913 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin the eighth of nine children born to Ignatius Anthony and Konstancja Augusta (Malecka) Kobza.  His father was a native of Topola, Poland and operated a saloon at 577 Maple Street in Milwaukee. His father died in 1930 and his mother in 1931 and he lived with one or the other of his sisters for a while.  "Ted", as he was known, worked in construction and joined the National Guard.

He was a PVT in a local National Guard unit when he entered federal service in October 1940.  It is possible that he joined G Company 116th Infantry before the regiment shipped out for England in September 1942.  However, we do know that he was assigned to the unit prior to D-Day and participated in the amphibious assault on Omaha Beach on 6 Jun 1944. PFC Kobza was wounded on 8 Jun 1944 and evacuated to hospital. He was returned to the unit from the replacement depot on 25 Jul 1944. Ted was wounded again on 7 Aug 1944 in the battle for Vire and again evacuated to hospital.  He returned to the unit from the replacement depot on Christmas Eve 1944. PFC Kobza was killed in action on 1 Mar 1945 at Giesenkirchen, Germany.

PFC Kobza was buried at the Netherlands American Cemetery.