WW2 Fallen - Paratrooper and DSC hero Edward Wojewodzic

Sgt. Edward Wojewodzic was killed when the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment captured Lae Nadzab Airport.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/92061405/edward-t-wojewodzic
http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-conflicts-periods/ww2/units/503-para.htm
http://corregidor.org/heritage_battalion/cordero/david_cordero.html 

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

He was born on January 9, 1918 in Michigan. His parents were both born in Poland. His father worked as a fireman and later a brass foundry coremaker. Edward had an older brother, an older sister, a younger brother, and three younger sisters.

He enlisted in the army on June 19, 1941. At some point he volunteered to train as a paratrooper. He became a sergeant in Company B, 1st Battalion, 503d Parachute Infantry Regiment. The 503d was the first airborne unit to serve in the Pacific theater, making a parachute drop at Lae Nadzab Airport, New Guinea on September 5, 1943. General Douglas McArthur watched the drop from a circling B-17. Over the next week the 503d secured the air field, the first one the Americans would control on New Guinea. The enemy did not actively contest the Americans and only managed to kill 8 paratroopers. One of them was Sgt. Wojewodzic who was killed on September 13, 1943.

Sgt Wojewodzic was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross:

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Edward T. Wojewodzic (36119209), Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 503d Parachute Infantry Regiment, in action against enemy forces on 13 September 1943. Sergeant Wojewodzic's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

His grave is at Holy Cross Cemetery in Detroit, Michigan.

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

Last year on this date I profiled Captain Wiliford Brand of the 6th Armored Division. You can see pictures and read about Captain Brand 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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