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| Staff Sergeant Johnnie Culak served in the 358th Infantry Regiment with these men and was killed in Normandy on D+6. http://www.ww2incolor.com/us-army/advance.html https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=69652308&ref=acom |
Johnnie J. Culak never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on November 13, 1917 in Texas. His father was also born in Texas (one generation from Czechoslovakia) while is mother was from Czechoslovakia. His father worked as a farmer. John had three older sisters and one younger sisters. By 1940 John had completed eight years of schooling and was working on the family farm.
He enlisted in the army on March 21, 1942. One year later he married Leonitta Krejci on May 27, 1943. Johnnie became a staff sergeant in Company F, 2nd Battalion, 358th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division (nicknamed Tough 'Ombres).
Some men for the 90th ID saw action on D-Day June 6, 1944 on Utah Beach, the rest, including Sgt. Culak, were all in Normandy by June 10.
On June 12, 1944 the 358th IR attacked Pont l'Abbe on the way to take the high ground past the town. Sgt. Culak was killed during the successful attack.
His grave is at St. Josephs Catholic Cemetery in Moulton, Texas. His widow never remarried and died in 1988. They are buried side by side.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Join the public Facebook group WW2 Fallen 100
My Great Uncle died with this man on the same day in France. His name was Samuel F. Linn, age 24, from North Dakota. They were buried next to each other in st. Mere Eglise. RIP.
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