More Information on WW1 US ARMY PRIVATE Marion Joseph Andrzejak

[Taj Patel]

Dear Militaria Collecters,

 

I don’t know if this fits in this category. But anyway I got this photo of a group of mostly Polish World War l veterans or soldiers either returning home or gathering for the mass of Thanksgiving on April 11,1920 in South Bend,Indiana. From pictures there seems to be Marines, US Army soldiers, and Navy sailors. This photo belonged to US Army Private Marion Joseph Andrzejak. I did some research at found his grave, his info in a 1940 census and newspaper that listed him a severely wounded soldier. I also found an obituary article in newspaper saying he was in the US Army and a member of the band in the photo known as the Z. B. Falcons. I could not find a exact year of birth because his grave says 1888, the owner photos says 1887, and the census says 1890. I also could not find any of his military documents or any information on what unit he was in. So if anybody can I would really appreciate if you could dig up some more information on him because I would like to find him in the photo.

 

US ARMY PRIVATE

Marion Joseph Andrzejak

 

Thanks,

Taj Patel

[Taj Patel]

Here is a more clear photo of the newspaper

[AustinO]

That yardlong is great!

 

Here's his Indiana service card, as well as the muster rolls for Company F 26th Infantry ending August 1918.  He is on the September roll as well, and not on the October roll. 

 

Every wounded man in the 1st Division was cited in GO 1 of 1920.  Because of that "Divisional Citation", in 1932 when the Silver Star and Purple Heart were introduced he would have been eligible for both medals.  

[AustinO]

Regarding finding him in the photo, it might be tough.  He would be wearing a small chevron on each of his lower sleeves (most guys appear to just have their overseas stripes on their left sleeve - each stripe denoting 6mo overseas).  

 

In most instances, guys who were wounded flaunted their wound stripe (the stripe on their corresponding right sleeve).  I don't see anyone in the front row with that right sleeve chevron (but you might be able to find one).  He would also be wearing a shield shaped patch on his upper left shoulder (if you google WWI First Division patch you'll get an idea of what it looks like).  It's also possible he would be wearing a French fourragere shoulder cord (google that too), though its plausible he is not.  

 

Also - check out the guys in the back wearing Ulan type helmets!  Wild! 

[AustinO]

Here he is on ancestry - that should help!