kristoffer Posted June 25, 2018 Share #1 Posted June 25, 2018 Hello everyone, My name is Kristoffer, a collector from Sweden. I've been collecting US militaria for perhaps 10 years now. Not a high end collector, I purchase smaller items, mostly medals and insignia. One thing I enjoy in particular is the Bronze Star. Can't explain why but I have always liked that medal. By now I have several in my collection. I do my best to research and do the recipients justice. Not always easy to find information ( if anyone has any advice I will gladly take it). I usually try to obtain the service records but they usually don't help a lot, if they even excist anymore. Anyhow I thought I'd share my stars with all of you. Hope you will like them as much as I do. Will post a photo every other day with the information I have. Best regards Kristoffer This Bronze Star was awarded to Andrew J. Straka. He was from Alaska, born in 1919. Enlisted in 1942. He was a member of HQ Co, 3rd Bn, 395th Inf Regt, 99th Inf Div. The battles he took part in was the Ardennes, Remagen, Ruhr pocket and Rhineland. He was discharged on Dec 11, 1945 as a corporal. This medal with a V was earned during the Battle of the Bulge when he captured a German paratrooper on December 17, 1944. Thank you for your service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigJohn#3RD Posted June 25, 2018 Share #2 Posted June 25, 2018 Welcome aboard Kristoffer. There are some great folks here that will answer most questions posted on the forum or direct you to where you can find the answer. Thanks for posting you engraved Bronze Star to a "Battle Baby" of the U.S.A. 99th Infantry Division. Best regards, John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swabbie Posted June 25, 2018 Share #3 Posted June 25, 2018 You've done well to get that much on Cpl Straka. Since the infamous St Louis fire, the loss of Army service records frustrates all of us. Happy you're joining us, Kristoffer and welcome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aznation Posted June 25, 2018 Share #4 Posted June 25, 2018 > Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aznation Posted June 25, 2018 Share #5 Posted June 25, 2018 From book: Battle of the Bulge By Turner Publishing Co Page 233 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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kristoffer Posted June 26, 2018 Author Share #11 Posted June 26, 2018 Thanks for your kind comments BigJohn#3RD and swabbie! Yes it is a shame about the fire.. Makes everything a lot harder. Thanks aznation! A lot of new info, really appreciate it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kristoffer Posted June 26, 2018 Author Share #12 Posted June 26, 2018 Emil J. Fligar of Youngstown, Ohio. Member of the 242nd Inf Rgt. According to his service record he took part in the campaign in Sicily and Rhineland but his obituary states he was a veteran of Nort Africa and France aswell. Anyone has any idea as to how this is? He was also a guad at the Nuremberg trials. Thank you for your service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kristoffer Posted June 28, 2018 Author Share #13 Posted June 28, 2018 This Bronze Star was awarded to Harold S. Wiley. I really love this engraving. I have a ID on this one aswell, unfortunately when I tried to send for his records almost nothing came up. He was from Androscoggin, Maine. Born in 1908. Enlisted on 16 October 1940. Anyone knows where I might be able to find some more information about him? Thank you for your service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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aznation Posted June 28, 2018 Share #18 Posted June 28, 2018 Kennebec Journal Newspaper Archives, Sep 4, 1976, p. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aznation Posted June 28, 2018 Share #19 Posted June 28, 2018 One wife's obituary: Frances Wiley Obituary AUGUSTA -- Frances Wiley, 96, a resident of this community, died May 2, 2010, at MaineGeneral Rehabilitation and Nursing Care at Glenridge, Augusta. She was born in Bar Harbor on Oct. 24, 1914, the daughter of the late Isabella and Daniel Farley. When she was 7 years old, their family moved to Hallowell. She married Harold S. Wiley. In addition to her role as wife, mother and homemaker, she had worked at Hallowell Shoe Co. for several years. Mrs. Wiley was a member of Cox Memorial United Methodist Church of Hallowell, where she was active in the church and the women's group. She was also a member of the Eastern Star and the Rebecca's. She was predeceased by her husband, Harold S. Wiley; her sister, Jenny Robbins; and several cousins. Survivors include her daughter, Sandra Breton and her husband, Laurent, of Sidney; grandson Michael Breton, of Sidney; granddaughter Michelle Hayden and her husband, Ryan, of Manchester, N.H.; great-grandsons Terri and Chris Gilman, and Nicholas Breton; niece Gertrude Chaffin, of Brockton, Mass.; and several great-nieces and cousins. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 15, at Cox Memorial United Methodist Church, Hallowell. The family wishes to thank the staff of MaineGeneral Rehabilitation and Nursing Care at Glenridge for their care of Mrs. Wiley. Donations may be made in her memory to MaineGeneral Rehabilitation and Nursing Care at Glenridge, Resident Council, 40 Glenridge Drive, Augusta, ME 04330. Arrangements are under the direction of Plummer Funeral Home, 16 Pleasant St., Augusta. Condolences to the family may be expressed via the funeral home website at www.plum merfh.com. Published in Central Maine on May 5, 2010 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigJohn#3RD Posted June 28, 2018 Share #20 Posted June 28, 2018 Emil J. Fligar of Youngstown, Ohio. Member of the 242nd Inf Rgt. According to his service record he took part in the campaign in Sicily and Rhineland but his obituary states he was a veteran of Nort Africa and France aswell. Anyone has any idea as to how this is? He was also a guad at the Nuremberg trials. Thank you for your service. Kristoffer, The engraving looks like the official style from the 50s or 60s. Your veteran was part of the 42nd ID during WW2 and a quick look online shows that they served in Ardennes-Alsace, Rhineland, Central Europe campaigns. The division did not see combat until December 1944,"the three infantry regiments (222nd, 232nd, & 242nd) and a detachment of the 42ID Headquarters arrived in France at Marseille, 8–9 December 1944, and were formed into Task Force (TF) Linden, under Henning Linden, the Assistant Division Commander (ADC). TF Linden was task organized to VI Corps under 7th Army. TF Linden entered combat in the vicinity of Strasbourg, relieving elements of the 36ID on 24 December 1944. (1) There is not much online about the 242nd IR, but I'm sure you can find out more about the soldier. He may well have been a replacement or possible WIA in Sicily returned to the states and joined the 242nd and 42nd in CONUS. But, he could have been a guy pulled out of the rear to fill out combat division that had taken horrendous casualties during the Ardennes. (1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/42nd_Infantry_Division_(United_States) I hope more turn up about your soldier. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aznation Posted June 29, 2018 Share #21 Posted June 29, 2018 TITUSVILLE OBITUARIES Emil J. Fligar, 90, of Titusville died September 25, 2006 in Titusville. Born in Youngstown, Ohio on August 22, 1916, he lived in Brevard County since 1975. He was a US Army Combat Infantryman from WWII. While in the service he served in the North African, Sicilian, Southern France and German campaigns. Following WWII he was a guard at the Neremberg trials. He was the recipient of a Bronze Star. Emil is survived by his daughter, by marriage, Mary George of Titusville and his grandson George. He was preceded in death by his wife Goldie in 1968. Burial will be in Lake Milton, Ohio. Published in FLORIDA TODAY on Oct. 3, 2006 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aznation Posted June 29, 2018 Share #22 Posted June 29, 2018 Publication: Florida Today Location: Cocoa, Florida Issue Date: Thursday, January 26, 1984 Page: Page 8C Melbourne Marriage Licenses Emil Joseph Fligar, 67, Titusville, and Shirley Louise Richer, 55, Titusville Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aznation Posted June 29, 2018 Share #23 Posted June 29, 2018 The 3rd Battalion of the 26th Infantry Reg., "Blue Spaders," of the 1st Infantry Division were chosen to secure the historic Nuremberg War Crimes Trials. In one report, it mentioned that "K" Company of the 26th Inf., 1st Div. was on Courtroom duty. Other Units at Nuremberg were The US Constabulary, the 793rd MP Battalion, & the 508th MP Battalion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aznation Posted June 29, 2018 Share #24 Posted June 29, 2018 Looks like Emil had won the some money in the Florida Lottery. Good for him. Florida Lottery FANTASY 5 5-of-36 Winners Page 91 of 194 July 23, 2005-----------------$ 82,399.24 1. Emil Fligar of Titusville (QP) Retailer-Publix at 3265- Garden St. Titusville. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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