PVT Phillip Fechuch

PVT Phillip Fechuch was born Philimon Fechuch in Cleveland, Ohio most likely late 1927 or early 1928 but his true date of birth is obscured. He may have been born in January 1928 although many official documents give 5 Dec 1922 and some researchers extrapolate it as being 5 Dec 1927. It is no wonder that there is some confusion about this young man's life. He was most likely the 5th of 6 children of Matthew and Anna (Gutz) Fechuch. It was the 2nd marriage for both of his parents and both were immigrants, Matthew from Russia and Anna from Poland. Phillip had two older half-siblings from his mother's first marriage. Matthew seemed to have attained the American dream. He had immigrated in 1911 and by 1930 he owned a home valued at $3000 and was working as a punch press operator in a local factory. The couple lost 2 children in infancy in 1924. Anna died in December 1931. Matthew remarried soon after. Phillip's education didn't continue past the 4th grade. In 1942 Phillip was arrested for vagrancy in El Paso, Texas and he told police he was 17 although he would have been 14 and reportedly looked to be 14. He soon went to New York where he registered for the draft and gave his correct place of birth but also the date of birth of 5 Dec 1922. He gave his height as 6-foot and weight as 137 pounds. His height might explain how he was able to convince people that he was older than he was. He may have been working as a driver.

Phillip was drafted in June 1943 while he was living in New York City. Like every other draftee he would have been given basic military training before any further assignments. PVT Fechuch would have been assigned to a unit about 5 months or so after in-processing. We don't know to which unit he was assigned but we do know that he was in hospital in January 1944 (bronchitis; cardiac disease; nervous disorder), February 1944 (enteritis) and November 1944 (diagnosed with tuberculosis) and returned to duty every time. The enigma of this young man's life continues as he is first recorded on the morning report in E Company 116th Infantry on 3 Dec 1944 as returning from hospital and as a SSG serving as a squad leader but many of the following entries over the following months are correcting his rank, first to SGT and then to PVT, and his duty position from squad leader to rifleman. PVT (after corrections) Fechuch is noted as being missing in action on 8 Dec 1944. E Company was engaged in fighting at Koslar, Germany. Official military records give the date of death as 6 Dec 1945 although this was long after Germany's surrender in May of 1945. It is more likely that this is a clerical error and it was determined that his actual date of death was most likely 6 or 8 Dec 1944. His body was not recovered. There appears to have been some record that PVT Fechuch was the recipient of a Bronze Star but we can find no record of the citation.

PVT Fechuch is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing in the Netherlands American Cemetery. 

The photo shown is purportedly of Phillip but might not be of him, we are uncertain of the source. His father Matthew served as a PVT in France during WWI in C Company 4th Ammunition Train.

PVT Steve J. Kolevas

courtesy of Des Philippet

PVT Steve J. Kolevas was born in Reading, Pennsylvania on 28 Feb 1925. He was the only child of Greek immigrants John James and Tuxedo Duxea (Moustakas) Kolevas. His father was a cook and manager at a local sandwich shop. After graduating from high school, Steve went to work at Ennis Hardware Company in Reading. 

Steve was drafted in April 1943 and after his basic military training was sent to the European theater. We aren't certain to which units he may have been assigned. His military occupational specialty is given as Military Policeman in the morning reports. However, he was transferred from the replacement depot to A Company 116th Infantry on 21 May 1945. PVT Kovelas was killed on 28 May 1945 when he was accidentally shot by another soldier who was cleaning his weapon. 

PVT Kolevas is buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery.

SSG Walter Boger

SSG Walter Boger was born 9 Apr 1921 to Isaac and Sophia (Radke) Boger of Homestead, Kansas.  Isaac was a farmer who died in 1926.  The youngest of Isaac and Sophia's 5 children, by 1940 Walter was supporting his mother as a clerk in a grocery.

While we don't know at this time when Walter entered the service it appears that he was assigned to I Company 116th Infantry prior to the D-Day landings.  On 16 Oct 1944 he was promoted to SSG. From 18 to 27 Dec 1944 he was at the 29th Division Training Center.  Returned to I Company, he was killed in action 24 Apr 1945 in the vicinity of Grippel, Germany.

SSG Boger is buried the Netherlands American Cemetery. 

PFC Vincent Frank Mazzaferri

courtesy of Des Philippet

PFC Vincent Frank Mazzaferri was born 12 Oct 1923 in Verbicaro, Italy to John and Maria Francesca (Brasuina) Mazzaferri.  John immigrated in 1923 and brought Maria, Vincent and Vincent's older brother Joseph to the United States in 1930. John worked as a janitor to support his family earning $1370 in 1939.Vincent completed 2-years of high school before beginning work, probably to help support his family.

Vincent was apparently working as a carpenter's assistant or apprentice when he was drafted in late April 1943. We don't know much about his military assignments until he was transferred from the replacement depot to A Company 116th Infantry on 5 Mar 1945.  PFC Mazzaferri was killed in action on 24 Apr 1945.

PFC Mazzaferri is buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery.

PVT Attilio Joseph Simone

PVT Attilio Joseph Simone was born 4 Aug 1917 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the 3rd of 6 children, 5 boys and 1 girl, born to Joseph and Jenetta (Bonelli) Simone. While living in Philadelphia, his father worked in a steel mill. The family moved to 147 Shreve Street in Mount Holly, New Jersey and his father worked as a laborer for the Pennsylvania Rail Road. Attilio married Caroline D. Bardolf in and the couple had a son in 1939. The family lived at 969 Florence Avenue in Camden, New Jersey and Attilio worked as a helper in a forge earning a reported 1939 income of $1200.

Although he had registered for the draft in 1940 he was not drafted until May 1944. After completing his basic military training he was sent to the European theater and, on 1 Mar 1945, PVT Simone was transferred from the replacement depot to K Company 116th Infantry to serve as a rifleman. He was killed in action near Dortmund, Germany on 6 Apr 1945.

PVT Simone rests forever in the Netherlands American Cemetery.

Attilio is survived by grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

PFC Pascal Alfonzo Prozzo

courtesy of Des Philippet

PFC Pascal Alfonzo Prozzo was born 1 Apr 1925 in Rutland, Vermont. He was the 4th of the 5 children born to Pascal and Angelina (Vecchione) Prozzo. Patsy's birth name was also Pascal but like his father he used the name Patsy. Both parents were natives of Italy. His father worked as a moulder in an ironworks.

Patsy was probably drafted in 1943. After his basic military training he was sent to the European theater. PVT Prozzo was transferred from the replacement depot to I Company 116th Infantry on 22 Jun 1944. He was a non-battle casualty on 4 Jul 1944 and evacuated to hospital but returned to the unit on 7 Jul 1944. He was wounded just 3 days later on 10 Jul 1944 and evacuated to hospital again. He would not return to the unit until 24 Jan 1945. Patsy was promoted to PFC on 12 Feb 1945. PFC Prozzo was killed in action on 6 Apr 1945.

PFC Prozzo rests forever in the Netherlands American Cemetery.

PFC Ardell Winston Payne

PFC Ardell Winston Payne was born 15 Dec 1921 in Cartersville, Georgia. He was the 2nd of the 6 children born to Ollie and Bertha Mae (Bivins) Payne. The family moved to Jacksonville, Florida after 1930 and would come to live in 954 East Monroe Street. His father worked as a steam shovel operator and for St. John's River Shipbuilding Company in Jacksonville. Ardell did not attend school beyond the 6th grade.

Ardell was drafted in June 1943. Despite his education level he must have been pretty smart because he was sent to training as a medic. After completion of that training PVT Payne was sent to England and assigned to Medical Detachment 116th Infantry and then attached to D Company 116th Infantry in time for the amphibious assault at Omaha Beach on 6 Jun 1944. He was wounded on that day and sent to hospital. PVT Payne did not return to the unit until 27 Jul 1944 when he returned from the replacement depot to the Medical Detachment. He continued to serve with D Company until he was wounded a 2nd time on 14 Oct 1944 and again evacuated to hospital. He returned from the replacement depot again on 28 Jan 1945 and again served with the Medical Detachment. It was sometime during this period that he was promoted to PFC. PFC Payne continued to serve as a medic at the Regimental aid station until he was killed in action on 5 Apr 1945 near Waltrop, Germany as the regiment participated in mop up operations in the Ruhr industrial area.

PFC Payne was ultimately interred in the Netherlands American Cemetery.

PFC Walter Bernard Heese

PFC Walter Bernard Heese was born 5 Mar 1922 in Marlin, Texas. He was the 2nd of 4 children born to Frank and Magdalena (Heese) Heese. Walter's father was a native of Lower Saxony, Germany and was his maternal grandfather but they don't seem to have been closely related. Frank Heese was farming on rented land on the Oenaville-Westphalia Road in 1920. The family continued to live near family in Falls County and in 1940 only Walter's youngest brother was not working as farm labor, probably for Herman Meyer. They were renting a house from him for $4 a month but reported no income for 1939. 

Walter wasn't drafted until 1944 and after his initial military training he was sent to the European theater. PVT Heese was transferred from the replacement depot to B Company 116th Infantry on 6 Dec 1944 to serve as a rifleman. He fought with the unit until wounded on 5 Apr 1945 and evacuated to a field hospital. PVT Heese died of his wound(s) on that same day.

PVT is buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery. 

2LT Oliver Earl Mayo

courtesy of Des Philippet

2LT Oliver Earl Mayo was born in 1921 in Chattanooga, Tennessee.  He was the 2nd of 8 children born to William Clarence and Leana Lois (Martin) Mayo. His father worked as a miller in a cement factory and a moulder in a stove factory. Oliver attended 4 years of high school and began work as a typesetter.

Oliver volunteered for Army service in August 1942. After enlistment he would have gone through basic training and Officer Candidate School before he was sent to the European theater of operations.  2LT Mayo was first assigned to F Company 116th Infantry from the replacement depot. Serving as a rifle platoon leader, he was wounded just 5 days later and evacuated to hospital on 19 Jun 1944. It probably took a while to recover as he was returned to the regiment from the replacement depot, this time assigned to E Company 116th Infantry on 18 Oct 1944. On 30 Oct 1944 he was moved from a platoon leader position to serve as the company executive officer. 2LT Mayo was wounded again on 23 Nov 1944 and again evacuated. He was returned to E Company on 30 Mar 1945 to serve as a platoon leader but on 2 Apr 1945 was reassigned to C Company 116th Infantry to fill a platoon leader vacancy in that unit. 2LT Mayo was killed in action on 4 Apr 1945.

2LT Mayo rests forever in the Netherlands American Cemetery. 

3 brothers served as well.  William Wade Mayo attained the rank of MSG.  Ivan V Mayo served as a SSG in the Army Air Corps. Andrew Jackson Mayo served as a SRCPO in the U.S. Navy. His father served in the Navy in WWI.

PVT Albert J. Genova

courtesy of Des Philippet

PVT Albert J. Genova was born in 1922 in Ohio.  Albert's mother's name was Anna, she had remarried by 1946 but we do not know what became of his father.  In February 1941, Albert was a PVT in a National Guard field artillery unit in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and was mobilized with that unit.

T5 Genova was transferred from the 227th Field Artillery Battalion to Medical Detachment 116th Infantry on 1 Aug 1944.  From 8 Jan 1944 to 14 Jan 1944 he was on temporary duty at the 29th Division Training Center.  On 19 Mar 1945 he was reduced in rank to PVT but we don't know why.  PVT Genova was killed in action on 4 Apr 1945.

PVT Genova is buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery.  Albert was awarded the Bronze Star but we do not know the circumstances.

PVT Edward John Konefal

courtesy of Des Philippet

PVT Edward John Konefal was born in 17 Jul 1922 in Passaic, New Jersey the only son of Andrew Joseph and Mary (Rozmus) Konefal.  Both parents were natives of Poland. His father was a laborer in a silk mill. 

Edward was working in textile manufacture when he was drafted in June 1943.  After his basic training he was sent to England and assigned to G Company 116th Infantry.  He was likely assigned to the unit not very long before the D-Day amphibious assault that took place on 6 Jun 1944.  He wasn't wounded that day but was wounded on 17 Jun 1944 and evacuated to hospital.  Edward did not return to the unit until he was transferred from the replacement depot on 16 Feb 1945!  PVT Konefal was killed in action on 1 Mar 1945.

PVT Konefal is buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery.

PFC Ignatz Anton Kobza

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.

PFC Benjamin Edwin Smith

PFC Benjamin Edwin Smith was born 6 Sep 1919 in Paterson, New Jersey. He was the 4th of 5 children born to Arthur Cleveland and Julia Akers (Green) Smith. His father drove trucks for various companies. Benjamin married Averil Cecelia Daniel in June 1938 and the couple had their first son in November 1938 and their second in July 1942. Benjamin worked for Woolworth Company as a shipping clerk and then for Wright Aero.

Benjamin was drafted in June 1944, completed his basic military training and was then sent to the European theater in September 1944. However he was apparently not sent to a combat unit until he was transferred from the replacement depot to G Company 116th Infantry on 15 Dec 1944. PVT Smith was promoted to PFC on 2 Feb 1945. He was killed in action on 1 Mar 1945 near Mönchengladbach, Germany.

PFC Smith rests forever in the Netherlands American Cemetery.

His brother, Albert Edward Smith also served in the U.S. Army in the European theater.

SGT Anthony Joseph Paradiso

SGT Anthony Joseph Paradiso was born 14 Apr 1922 in Tiffin, Ohio. He was the 3rd of 9 children and oldest son born to Salvatore and Maria Grazia (Cercelli) Paradiso. His father worked for what is now Webster Industries, Inc. in Tiffin. The family lived at the house he purchased at 380 Miami Street in Tiffin which was valued at $2000 in 1940. Anthony graduated from Calvert High School and worked as a clerk in a shoe store.

He was still in that line of work when he was drafted in September 1942. After his basic military training he would not be sent to Europe until June 1944. SGT Paradiso was assigned to L Company 116th Infantry on 7 Aug 1944 joining the unit near Vire, France. He was wounded by artillery fire on 1 Sep 1944 and evacuated to hospital. His recovery complicated by pneumonia, he returned to the unit via the replacement depot on 3 Jan 1945. On 5 Feb 1945 SGT Paradiso was sent to the 29th Division training center on temporary duty for 7 days. He was wounded in the face on 27 Feb 1945 but remained on duty. SGT Paradiso was killed in action on 1 Mar 1945.

SGT Paradiso rests forever in the Netherlands American Cemetery.

PFC Walter Wesley Jones

PFC Walter Wesley Jones was born in Blytheville, Arkansas on 24 Apr 1921 to Walter Pinkney and Elma E (Moore) Jones.  Walter Wesley was first born of the 5 children and I imagine all helped on the family farm. Unfortunately, this is all we know about this family. 

When Walter registered for the draft he stated that he was unemployed.  He also had a tattoo on his left arm that said "Wesley".  We don't know when he entered service but he was transferred from HQ 13th Corps to F Company 116th Infantry on 1 Jan 1945, was promoted to PFC on 1 Feb 1945 and died of wounds on 28 Feb 1945.  According to the morning reports he was likely wounded on the 28th as well. 

PFC Jones is buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery. 

PVT Claud R. Goins

PVT Claud R. Goins was born in Garrad County, Kentucky on 31 Aug 1923 the first born of Robert and Elizabeth (Gallagher) Goins. His father farmed.

Claud was drafted in July 1944 and sent to Europe.  On 15 Feb 1945 he was transferred from the replacement depot to B Company 116th Infantry.  PVT Goins was killed in action on 28 Feb 1945 in the vicinity of Otzenrath, Germany.

PVT Goins is buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery.

PFC William Stanley Niedzwiecki

courtesy of Fred

PFC William Stanley Niedzwiecki was born 27 Jul 1916 in Lowell, Massachusetts. He was the oldest of what would be 7 children born to Alexander H. and Mary (Nosinski) Niedzwiecki. Both parents were natives of Poland. The family soon moved to New Britain, Connecticut where his father worked for Stanley Tool Company. However, by 1940, Alexander was working for the Works Progress Administration (WPA) reporting a 1939 income of $560 and paying $16 a month rent for a home at 36 Gold Street in New Britain (at which the family would live for several more years). In that year, William was working at the Stanley works as a buffer and reporting a 1939 income of $1460.William married Branka A. Kaminski.

After entering the service and completing basic training, William was sent to the European theater. He was transferred from the replacement depot to L Company 116th Infantry on 27 Oct 1944. PFC Niedzwiecki was killed in action on 27 Feb 1945.

PFC Niedzwiecki rests forever in the Netherlands American Cemetery.

Brother, Stanley William Niedzwiecki, served in the U.S. Army during WW2.

PFC Charles William Starina Jr.

PFC Charles William Starina Jr. was born 23 Mar 1924 in Hawkesville, Oklahoma. He was the 4th of 5 children born to Charles William and Iva Blanche (Overstreet) Starina. His parent's first born, a daughter, had died in infancy. Charles' father was a farmer in Garden, Kansas growing vegetables for market in nearby Joplin, Missouri. The family home was valued at $200 in 1940.  At age 18, young Charles was working in the Joplin Stockyards.

Charles was drafted just 2 days before his 19th birthday in March 1943. After completing his basic military training he was sent to England in May 1944. He wasn't with the regiment for the D-Day landings but transferred from the replacement depot to B Company 116th Infantry on 5 Jul 1944. PVT Starina was wounded on 12 Jul 1944 near Saint-Lo, France and evacuated to hospital. After recovery he was sent to the replacement depot and returned to the unit on 12 Aug 1944. He was wounded again in the fighting for Brest on 2 Sep 1944 and again evacuated to hospital. This must have been a relatively inconsequential wound because he returned to the unit again via the replacement depot on 7 Sep 1944. He didn't stay with the unit for long as PVT Starina was injured on 17 Sep 1944 and again evacuated. This must have been more serious because he didn't return to the unit again until 3 Dec 1944. He was promoted to PFC on 11 Dec 1944. PFC Starina was killed in action near Julich, Germany on 25 Feb 1945.

PFC Starina rests forever in the Netherlands American Cemetery.

Charles' father served as a PVT in A Company 314th Engineers, 89th Division in France during WWI. Maternal great-grandfather, William R. Overstreet, served in Missouri unit of the Confederate States Army during the Civil War.

SSG Wallace Rodriguez Romero Sr

courtesy of Des Philippet

SSG Wallace Rodriguez Romero Sr was born 11 Apr 1913 in Houston, Texas. He was the oldest and only son of the 4 children born to James Donaciano and Fannie Romano (Cardenas) Romero. His father was a native of Mexico City, Mexico and had worked as a cook and owned a grocery in Houston. Wallace married Janie Ramos in December 1934 and they would have a son in 1937. The family was living at 2009 Union Street in Houston and Wallace was working for Henke and Pillot Grocery Company.

Wallace was drafted in late 1943 and after his basic military training he was sent to the European theater arriving in September 1944. On 10 Sep 1944 PVT Romero was transferred from the replacement depot to F Company 116th Infantry. He was promoted to PFC on 21 Sep 1944. Reported as missing in action on 17 Oct 1944 he was back with his unit on 18 Oct 1944. Wallace must have demonstrated leadership and competence in combat beyond that of his fellow soldiers because on 11 Dec 1944 he was promoted to SSG to serve as a squad leader. SSG Romero continued to fight with his unit until killed in action on 25 Feb 1945 in the attack on Lutzerath, Germany.

SSG Romero rests forever in the Netherlands American Cemetery.

SSG Frank J. Jones

courtesy Des Philippet

SSG Frank J. Jones was born in 1924 in Missouri the son of Isaac S. and Ethel Hazel (Thompson) Jones. His father worked in both the tire and metal fabrication industries.

Frank was drafted in September 1943.  He was sent to Europe and on 22 Jun 1944 transferred from  the replacement depot to C Company 116th Infantry.  On 11 Sep 1944 he was promoted to SSG.  He was wounded that same day and evacuated to hospital. He did not return to the unit until 18 Jan 1945.  SSG Jones was killed in action on 25 Feb 1945. 

SSG Jones is buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery. Brother Robert Isaac Jones served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the war.  Brother Donald Ray Jones served in the Army during the Korean War.