May 22, 201016 yr #1 Here it is again Just got his PH in the mail yesterday. I just want to say thank you to all who have helped me the past week. Thank you for the information, the trade for the PH, answering all my questions. WWII Bronze Star, Purple Heart Private John Zak 33271156 143 Infantry regiment, 36th Infantry Division, L Company, 3rd Battalion. POW Private John Zak was born in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania on February 11, 1918 to Joseph and Stella Zak. While in school he worked for his fathers' coal mines. At the age of 21 he went and worked in the oil field until his introduction in to the US Army on May 15, 1942. On April 2,1943 John went to to North Africa to fight the German Army. He was wounded in action; Then he was captured by the Germans; while there he spent nineteen months as a prisoner of war. He was presumed to have been killed in action, but it was a false report. He was in the Stalag 2B Hammerstien camp in West Prussia. He was released and returned to the United States on May 13, 1945. John received the Purple Heart, European, Middle East, North African Campaign Medal. He also received a Bronze Star as a machine gunner in Naples-Foggia Campaign. The Bronze Star was awarded by the 36th Infantry Division in April 1944 while John was still interred in a POW camp. The Purple Heart was awarded in October 1945. John died March 5, 1979 in Big Piney, Wyoming
May 22, 201016 yr #2 Hi Trevor, Good on you! It all worked out to be a happy ending! Keep the enthusiasm high. JS
May 23, 201016 yr #4 So glad to see that all worked out well and you were able to get ahold of that which you were searching for. Very nice, and my congrats to you! :thumbsup:
May 23, 201016 yr #6 Great Group with the history already at your fingertips what more could one ask for. Congratulations :thumbsup: John
February 12, 201115 yr Author #7 I wanted to to tell some new thing out found out for this group. I got a horrible copy of his Honorable Discharge papers It say that he was wounded September 13, 1943 in Salerno, Italy He was part of Operation Avalanche, in the invading force of Salerno, Italy
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