Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
PRUSACZYK, John F - Date of
birth
6 March 1920 -
Age
24 -
Place of birth
Bridgeport, Fairfield County, Connecticut -
Hometown
Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
31063582 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Tank Commander -
Unit
B Company,
704th Tank Destroyer Battalion
-
Awards
Silver Star,
Bronze Star,
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
9 February 1945 - Place of
death
Bannholz Woods, near Sinz-Nennig, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Luxembourg
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| H | 3 | 61 |
Immediate family
-
Members
John Prusaczyk (father)
Rose (Kostrzews) Prusaczyk (mother)
Josephine Prusaczyk (sister)
Adele Prusaczyk (sister)
Phyllis Prusaczyk (sister)
Alex Prusaczyk (brother)
Bernard D. Prusaczyk (brother)
Viola M. (Stypolkowski) Prusaczyk (wife
Frances Prusazyk (daughter)
More information
Sgt John F. Prusaczyk attended St. Peter's High School where he played basketball and was a member of their championship team which competed in the Glen Falls Invitational Tournament. He was also a member of the St. Mary's A.A. teams which won championships in 1940 and 1941. After he graduated from high school he went to work in a shoe factory and was employed by the Wiley, Bickford, Sweet Company when he enlisted at Fort Devens, Massachusetts on 10 February 1942.His M18 tank destroyer "Blondie" (which was the pet name for his wife) was hit by fire from two German Panther tanks.
His best friend and driver, Harry Traynor was seriously wounded and was taken prisoner. He survived the war.
He was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service on 7 July 1944 and the Silver Star for gallantry in action on 8 February 1945.
In his memory, the city of Worchester, Massachusetts held a ceremony sponsored by the Polish American Veterans of WWII in which a square was named after him. The square is located at Ward and Worth Streets in Worchester.
In 1995, a Luxembourger found John's engraved canteen cup and sent it to Harry Traynor. Harry kept it until he passed away.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Erwin Verholen, Peter Schouteten, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.abmc.gov, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men / Prout Family Tree / 1940 Census, www.tankdestroyer.net, www.findagrave.com - JFJN
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Luxembourg American Cemetery / JFJN / Erwin Verholen