Eugene “Jack” Kraszewski enlisted within the Military after he turned 18 and joined the 553rd Air Protection Battalion of the ninth Infantry Division on March 1, 1943.
He landed on Utah Seaside on D-Day and later participated within the Battle of the Bulge.
The Battle of the Bulge was the final main German assault throughout World Conflict II in December 1944. Its goal was to separate the Allied forces within the Ardennes area, however it in the end failed, inflicting heavy losses to Germany and laying the muse for the Allies’ ultimate victory.
Because of army service, Kraszewski was unable to finish his senior 12 months of highschool.
Final week, nonetheless, the Pulaski Neighborhood College District awarded the now 100-year-old veteran an honorary highschool diploma.
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World Conflict II veteran Jack Kraszewski receives diploma
It is outstanding that Jack Kraszewski acquired his highschool diploma 81 years after he was drafted into the Military throughout World Conflict II.
Earlier this 12 months, the Pulaski neighborhood got here collectively for a parade to commemorate his service and what would have been his one centesimal birthday. Kraszewski drove a World Conflict II-era jeep via the streets.
“Phrases cannot describe how a lot I liked it,” Kraszewski mentioned of the parade. “So many individuals got here to see me.”
He additionally recalled to reporters the hazards he confronted whereas combating for america in Europe.
“We’ll shoot down strafing plane, low-flying plane,” he mentioned. “As a result of our artillery was 40 mm, 50 caliber, we could not hit the bombers.”
“We’re in humid, twenty-four-seven climate.”
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D-Day additionally visited France
Jack Kraszewski additionally returned to France with different veterans to commemorate the eightieth anniversary of D-Day.
In line with Northeast Wisconsin NBC’s report on the twenty sixth, he entered France just a few months after the Normandy touchdown. After the march, he recalled being reunited together with his father when he returned house from conflict.
“I walked into the home and yelled ‘Is anybody house?’ and my dad stood up and it was a pleasant reunion,” he mentioned.
Kraszewski returned to work on the cheesemaker, the place he ultimately met his spouse and began a household.
He mentioned he wasn’t positive what the key to longevity was, however suspected it concerned some assist from above.
“I do not know, the man upstairs took care of me,” he mentioned.
Now the neighborhood is taking good care of he.
