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US Army PFC John L. Wrzesinski served in the 34th Infantry Division, aka The Red Bull Division, and was KIA near Cassino, Italy
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/29690864/john-l.-wrzesinski
https://www.iowanationalguard.com/History/History/Pages/World-War-II.aspx
http://ww2awartobewon.com/wwii-archives/edisons-soldiers-34th-infantry-division/
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He was born on November 23, 1918 in Lansing, Michigan. His parents Bartholomew and Louisa were born in Poland. John had one older brother and two younger sisters. His father died in 1928. In 1940 he had completed 2 years of high school and was living with his widowed mother and working as a laborer. He married Marguerite Kudella on October 17, 1942 in Clinton County, Michigan.*
John enlisted in the U.S. Army May 14, 1943 and served in the 168th Infantry Regiment, 67th Infantry Brigade of the 34th Infantry Division. The 34th Infantry was known as the “Red Bull” Division, and has the distinction of having taken more enemy-defended hills than any other US Army Division in WWII. PFC Wrzesinski was sent overseas in October 1943 to join the 168th Infantry near Naples, Italy and likely participated in the intense combat as the 34th Division fought its way north across icy rivers and thru villages, hills, and snow-capped mountain peaks. The exhausted soldiers of the 34th were relieved in December 1943 after 76 successive days of contact with the enemy and had a brief respite to rest and refit.
In early January 1944 the 34th returned to the front lines and led the advance across the Rapido river to the town of Cassino. The combat conditions were very challenging, as the mountains were rocky and strewn with boulders and cut by ravines and gullies. Digging foxholes on the rocky ground was impossible and the soldiers were exposed to German fire from surrounding high points. It was likely during the struggle to capture the town of Cassino that PFC Wrzesinski was killed on February 4, 1944.
The performance of the 34th Division in the mountains, in which they sustained losses of almost 80 percent, is considered to rank as one of the finest feats of arms carried out by any soldiers during the war.
John Leo Wrzesinski is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Lansing, Michigan. His wife remarried in 1946 and passed away in 1990.
Thank you John for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for John.
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This profile was written by Bob Fuerst. "I’m a NASA engineer, B-17 Flying Fortress enthusiast, and amateur genealogist so this kind of research is an ideal outlet for me. But more than anything, it’s a way to express my sincere appreciation for The Greatest Generation and the sacrifices that they made, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice. They should never be forgotten and I’m grateful to Don for allowing me to play a small part in honoring them."
*One year later Marguerite's brother Joseph, an army private, was killed in action in New Georgia.
Last year on this date I profiled B-29 pilot Wilson Currier. You can read about Wilson here.
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