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name
ZALEWSKI, Frank Chester - Date of
birth
1924 -
Age
unknown - Place of
birth
Southampton, Suffolk County, New York -
Hometown
Southampton, Suffolk County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
32797017 -
Rank
Private First Class -
Function
unknown -
Unit
A Company,
1st Battalion,
30th Infantry Regiment,
3rd Infantry Division
-
Awards
Distinguished Service Cross,
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
24 September 1944 - Place of
death
In the vicinity of Rupt-sur-Moselle and Ferdrupt, France
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Epinal
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 11 | 50 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Frank Zalewski (father)
Janina (Herman) Zalewski (mother)
John A. Zalewski (brother)
Alex P. Zalewski (brother)
Anna F. Zalewski (sister)
Stanley Zalewski (brother)
More information
Pfc Frank C. Zalewski attended high school for two years.He enlisted in New York City, New York on 8 February 1943.
In April 1944, in Italy, he was wounded in action by artillery shell fragments in the leg. He was discharged from the hospital in June 1944.
In August 1944 he was wounded again by artillery shell fragments in his leg.
He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross posthumously for his action that day. The citation cited: On 27 August 1944, near Begude, France, Pfc Zalewski voluntarily ran and crawled three hundred and forth yards through intense machine gun fire and mortar concentrations. Despite shells which exploded ten yards away, he took his bazooka to an exposed position and knocked out an enemy half-track. With only one rocket left, he remained at his post and destroyed at forty yards range an enemy tank which charged him with both machine guns blazing. Setting both half-track and tank afire and killing eight Germans, Pfc Zalewski saved an infantry platoon from destruction. He was killed in a subsequent action.
He was killed by a bullet in the eye.
Source of information: Leo Minne, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com – 1930/1940 Census / Headstone and Interment Record / U.S. Draft Cards Young Men / US WW2 Hospital Admission Cards, History 3rd Infantry Division WWII
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Andy