PVT Stanley Wardecki; KIA Italy

[Sarge8]

Another newspaper clipping from Sammy T. All of these clippings appear to have come from the Nanticoke area of Pennsylvania. Nanticoke was a coal mining center at one point.

 

 

Stanley Joseph Wardecki was born 16 July 1924 to Helen and Michael Wardecki. His father was a coal miner and was killed in a cave-in 5 months after Stanley was born. His mother never remarried and passed away in 1975.

 

Stanley enlisted in May 1943 and was in Co A, 141st Infantry Regiment, 36th Division when he was KIA in Italy on 23 Jan 1944. He was only 19.

 

From the 141st History:

 

" San Pietro: In the fighting for Highway Six - the Road to Rome - in November, the 141st spent November and December, 1943, fighting to clear the Mignano Gap. The Regiment assaulted San Pietro on December 15th . The old Italian village was located on the slopes of a mountain, and, after three attempts at assault, the 141st finally took the village when the 142d outflanked the position. Soon they followed the First Special Service Force up Hill 730 after the capture of that position. The Germans called the 141st "wild men from Texas, skilled in fieldcraft and fighting".

Rapido River. It was foot by foot, yard by yard, in January and February, 1944, and then the 141st reached the River Rapido, a name that left a bloody page in the records of the 141st and 143d. Terrible casualties resulted as the Alamo Regiment attempted to force the stream, lacking boats, bridges and artillery support. The 48 hours at the Rapido River cost the Regiment dearly. And there still was fighting ahead, Monte Cassino. By the end of this campaign, February 27th, platoons were reduced to squads, companies to platoon strength and battalions to two hundred men. "