WW2 Anzio Fallen - Edward Gazda, 3rd Infantry Division

PFC Edward Gazda served with the 3rd Infantry Division at Anzio.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/171975679/edward-l-gazda
https://www.eucmh.be/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/3rd-Infantry-Division-Beach-Anzio-1944.jpg 

Edward Gazda never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on June 25, 1919 in New York. His parents Wladislawa and Teckla were both born in what became Poland. They came to America in 1910 and 1907, respectively. His father worked as a broom maker and later as a broom shop winder. Still later he worked as a wool picker. Edward had three older brothers. By 1940 Edward had completed three years of high school and was still living with his parents. He found a job working for a carpet manufacturer. 

He was drafted into the army on June 9, 1942. He became a private first class in Company H, Third Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division (nicknamed "Rock of the Marne").

PFC Gazda and the 3rd ID were in battle early on in Morocco in November 1942. He fought in Sicily and at Salerno in the summer of 1943. By October he was involved in heavy fighting crossing the Volturno River and the Battle of Monte Cassino. During the campaign in southern Italy, the 3rd ID suffered 3,265 battle casualties (including 683 killed) and an incredible 12,959 non-battle casualties. PFC Gazda, was one of few men from the 3rd ID to still be in action into the spring of 1944.

The 3rd ID was next sent to take part in the Battle of Anzio on January 22, 1944. The landing achieved complete surprise but the Allied forces were slow to take the high ground, allowing the Germans to form a strong defensive ring on the hills around the beachhead. The 3rd ID spent sixty-seven consecutive days on the front lines, endured numerous German counterattacks and a rain of German artillery shells. PFC Gazda was wounded on March 18 and died of his wounds on April 1, 1944.

His grave is at Saint Stanilaus Cemetery in Amsterdam, New York.

Thank you PFC Gazda for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Edward.

Last year on this date I profiled US Naval Academy graduate John Spears, USS Vincennes. You can read about John here.

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.

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WW2 Fallen 100 is supported by

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